IMPROVEMENTS IN MASTING AND RIGGING BOATS AND VESSELS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1881. A com-
munication from abroad by John McLeod, of the City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MASTING AND RIGGING BOATS
AND VESSELS." [A communication from abroad by John McLeod, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to increase the safety and improve the sailing
qualities of boats and vessels.
According to the Invention the mast is hung so that it may swing sideways on
a fore and aft axle or trunnions supported on the thwart of a boat or the beams of
a larger vessel, so that the mast may incline to leeward under a squall and spill
the wind from the sails, and thus prevent the capsizing of the boat or vessel.
The heel of the mast is in close contact with an arc which extends across the boat
hull beneath the thwart or beams, the lower point of said arc being supported on a
block that is secured to the keelson, while its arms extend upward and outward
through the thwart near the ends thereof. The are consists of a metal tube having
coiled about each arm a spiral spring that extends from the heel of the mast
upward in contact with an adjusting screw nút that is movable on said arm for
compressing and increasing the tension of the spring. The shrouds extend from
the mast down on either side thereof, and enter the ends of the arc where they are
made fast to springs within the arc, the shrouds passing over sheaves which are
secured to the ends of the arc to relieve their friction as the springs extend or
retract.
On the foot of the mast is secured a block of metal that serves as adjustable
ballast as the boat lays over, and as a counter balance to hold the said mast in an
upright position, and to assist in restoring the mast to such position after it has
been inclined sideways from it.
With this device in a boat or vessel under sail, the mast will remain in its proper
upright position under an ordinary wind, and the boat or vessel will list over as
far as compatible with good sailing and safety, but under a heavy wind or squall

page_text: the mast will yield to leeward and spill out of the sails all the wind or the pressure
thereof that may be in excess of what the boat or vessel can safely carry, and on
the slacking of the wind the mast instantly begins to resume its primary position
by reason of the windward springs and the counterbalance, which counterbalance
shifts to windward as the boat heels to leeward. Thus the speed of the boat or
vessel may be maintained without danger of capsizing, the sails holding no more
wind than the vessel can safely carry.
Most accidents in open boats occur from the sheets being belayed so that they
cannot quickly be thrown off.in a squall or sudden freshening of the wind, or from
jibing when attempting to bring the boat closer to the wind. Both of these causes
of accidents may be avoided by the use of the device herein described, as the boat
or vessel provided with this improved rig would not lay over so far that her keel
would lose its hold upon the water, nor would the boat or vessel make much
leeway, but would always keep in a good sailing position. In undecked or open
boats the arc springs and counterbalance could be put in shallow boxes in the
spaces between the thwarts and keelson.
For yachts and other decked vessels, the arc may be constructed of a strong iron
plate with flanges for the heel of the mast to move in while acting on the springs.
The shrouds could be fastened to spring chain plates, the plates being passed down
through the covering boards inside the railing, or suitable springs could be arranged
in any other part of the shoulds, but preferably the shroud adjusting springs are
set and confined in the form of an arc of a circle:
In some instances an iron projection may be made to extend down from the
heel of the mast, and rest and move upon a semicircular guide or are formed of
stout iron, and fastened on the bottom of the vessel across the keelson thereof.