Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1897-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1897
We, WILLIAM KING, and RICHMOND JAMES MARTINEZ, both of 115 and 117 Magazine
Street, New Orleans, La., U.S.A., Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a sailing vessel which will be capable of
carrying an increased amount of sail.
By this invention the mast, spars and other parts of the rigging are made
extensible as hereinafter described.
The mast is, as usual, stepped in the forward part of the hull, and supports the
boom at its base, and said boom has a notched plate extending throughout its length,
and is adapted to receive the cords holding the mainsail in place.
The main gaff is composed of two extensible sections. The inner section has the
usual jaw which embraces the mast. The main-gaff is adapted to be raised by.
halyards.
Suitable steps are arranged on each side of the hull, slightly forward of the mast,
and receive the jaws of the spinnaker booms; there being one for each step. Each
spinnaker boom comprises two extensible sections which aro capable of being
operated by a halyard. The spinnaker booms are each provided with a gaff composed
of two sections slidingly arranged together.
A stern-bit is provided to support the lengthened form of the main-boom, and by
means of a suitable arrangement of blocks and sheets the main-boom is regulated.
Dated this 17th day of August 1890.
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.
We, WILLIAM KING, and RICHMOND JAMES MARTINEZ, both of 115 and 117 Magazine
Street, New Orleans, La., U.S.A., Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a sailing vessel which will be capable of
carrying an increased amount of sail; and to this end the invention consists in au
improved construction of spars, whereby this increased amount of sail is made
possible.

page_text: The invention will be fully described hereinafter and embodied in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vessel, showing the spars and showing one
manner of arranging the sails thereon. Fig. 2 is also an elevation shewing the spars
in a different relation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the spars in still another
relation. Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the bowsprit of the vessel and the parts
arranged therewith. Fige. 5 and 6 are detail views illustrative of the muin gaff.
Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail view shewing
the spars provided with a double top-sail. Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the
manner of pivotally onnecting the spinnacker gaffs to the mast.
I will first describe the construction and arrangement of the spars of the vessel and
shew the various applications of the sails thereto.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, the reference numeral I indicates the
mast, which is stepped in the forward part of the hull, and which has a topmast 2,
mounted thereon by means of the crosstrees 3, all of which is of the usual construction.
The boat is provided with a bowsprit 4, which is extended out forward from the bow
of the boat and braced in the usual manner, and with a stern-bit 5, which projects
rearwardly from the steru of the vessel and is also suitably braced. Operating at the
base of the mast 1 is the main boom 6, and this is provided with a jaw 7, which
embraces the base of the mast. Secured along the outer side of, the boom 6 and
extending throughout the length thereof is a notched plate 8, which is provided to
receive the cords holding the mainsail in place. Fig. 2 illustrates this construction.
The main-gaff is composed of two extensible sections 9 and 10, slidably mounted
on each other by means of the bauds 12 and 13, the bands being fixed to the
extension-section 9 and loosely embmcing the outer section 10. The section 9 has
the usual jaw 14, which embraces the mast as shewn. Connected to the bands 12 and
13 are the halyards 15, which are connected also to the upper end of the mast and are
provided to raise the main gaff.
The band 12 has connected thereto a pulley 16, over which the halyard 17 operates
and this halyard is employed to extend the sections 9 and 10 of the main-gaff, which
operation is effected by diwing in the halyard 17, and owing to the relation which
this has with the pulley 16 the sections 9 and 10 are caused to move together or to
be extended. A down-haul rope or halyard 18 is provided and connected to the
section 10, the said halyard being provided to draw the sections of the gaff together
when it is desired to nest or house these parts.
Rising from each side of the hull of the vessel and slightly forward of the mast 1
are the steps 19, the same being one for each side and provided with reduced and
rounded upper ends, which respectively receive the jaws 20 of the spinnncker booms 21.
The spinnacker booins are one for each of the steps 19, and each comprises two extensible
sections a and b, the sections b being the inner sections and each having secured to
its outer extremity a band 22. These bands 22 slidably embrace the respective
sections a, which, have fixed to their inner extremities the bands 23 and 24, the said
bands 23 and 24 being two for each of the sections a and being slidably engaged
with the respective sections b. A halyard 25 is conuected to the rear of the bands 24,
and to the respective bands 26, which bands 26 are secured to the extremities of
the inner sections b of each spinnacker-boom. This halyard 25 is provided to
extend the sections a and b in the setting of the spinnacker booms. The bands 24 are
each provided with a down-haul 27, the same being provided to move the sections a
of each spinnaker boom inwardly in the operation of nesting the said booms.
Reference to Fig. 5 will shew that I provide the stays 28 and their associated blocks
for sustaining the spinnaker booms 21 in a horizontal position.
Each spinnaker is provided with a gaff, and these gaffs are composed of two
sections 20 and 30, the sections 29 being the inner sections and having fixed to their
outer ends the bands 31, 32, and 34, which slidably embrace the sections 30 of the

page_text: spinnaker-gaffe, and these sections 30 are each in turn provided with a bracket 33,
which embmces the adjacent inner section 29. Thus it will be seen that the two
sections of each spinnaker-gaff are mounted to slide on each other, and by means of
the four bands with which each band is provided these sections are braced with all
necessary rigidity. The bands 32 and 31 of each spinnaker-gat are provided with
halyards 35, the office of the same being to extend the sections of the gaff, while the
bauds 34 of each gaff have a dowu-haul halyard 36 for reversing the operation of the
halyards 35. These halyards are supplied with suitable blocks and other fixtures, as
will be understood without detailed description.
In order to raise the gaffs of each spinnaker and to support them at the proper
elevation, I provide the halyards 37 which are of the usual forin, and which are
connected to the bands of the sections 28 and to the topmast 2. Auxiliary halyards
38 are also provided for the same purpose and secured to the sections 29 and to the
topmast 2. Still further halyards 39 are provided and secured to the extremities of
the respective sections 30 and to the peak or truck of the topmast, the purpose of the
last halyards being to sustain the outer ends of the section 30 against the weight of
the sails which will be connected thereto.
The stern bit 5 is provided to accommodate the lengthening of the main-boom 6,
and by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that a suitable arrangement of blocks
and sheets is provided whereby this main-boom is regulated. The spinnaker-booms 21
are also provided with the necessary sheets 40 as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, and
these sheets are arranged fore and aft, so that the booms will be braced either way.
Fig. 9 shows the manner of connecting the spinnaker-gaffs to the mast, and this
consists in a band 41, fixed to the upper portion of the mast and provided with
sockets 42, the same being two in number, and projecting radially from the bands.
Fitted within the respective sockets 42 are the pins 43, which are held therein by
means of keys 44, and the said pins 43 have pivotally connected to their outer ends
the respective sleeves 45, in which the sections 29 of the respective spinnaker gaff's
are fixed. Thus it will be seen that the spinnaker gaffs are mounted with a pivotal
movement, which is equally universal to that furnished by the usual jaw and with
much more security; also this improvement dispenses with the necessity of halyards
for arranging and supporting the gaffs.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the construction of the main-gaff, whereby the sections
thereof are made capable of sliding readily one upon the other, and this comprises a
beam 90, extending longitudinally of the upper section 9 of the gaff and having a
plate 91 at its upper side, which has edges overhanging the corresponding sides of
the beam and which edges are embraced by the lower and inwardly extended portions
of the band 92, in turn secured to the inner extremity of the gaff section 10 of the
gaff. By these means it will be seen that the section 10 may have easy sliding
movement on the section 9, and also that the two sections will be retained in proper
alignment and with all proper and desirable rigidity. The under side of the section 9
is also provided with a beam 93, having notches in its upper side, said beam being
similar in construction and function to the notched plate or beam 8 of the main-
boom 6 as herein before described. The jaw 14 of the section 90 of the boom is
provided with a shoo 94, which bears against the mast and which is pivotally
inounted in the jaw, and with halls 95, the same being mounted on a wire or rod
extending from one side of the jaw to the other. These balls 95 are adapted to lie on
one side of the mast nud the shoe 94 will lie on the opposite side.
Having now described the construction and arrangement of the spars of the vessel, I
will proceed to explain the various ways in which sails may be bent thereon. Fig. 1 shews
a mainsail 46 bent ou the main boom 6 and on the inner section 9 of the main gaff. The
extension 10 of the main-gaff carries the bonnet 54 of the main-sail, which is beld
on the said gaft and on the main boom. A topsail 47 is also provided and carried by
the extended main gaff and held at the truck of the topmast. The rigging shewn
in Fig. 2 comprises a mainsail 46 and its bonnet 54", together with a main
topsail 47. The jib rigging in Fig. 2 is of the usual form and comprises a jib 50, a

page_text: slaysail 61, and a jib-topenil 52. In Fig. 2 the spinnaker boom is contmeted and
nested in the crutch 53, secured 'on the bowsprit 4. When the topmast 2 has beon
carried away, either of the spinnaker giffs may be used in place of a topmast. This
use is shewn in Fig. 2, and there it will be seen that the starboard gaff is raised on its
mountings to form an extension of the mast 1 and enrries a topsail 47. When the
spars are so arranged the starboard spinnaker sail will be dispensed with. The port
spinnnkor sail may be used, if desired; but in the view referred to the port spinnaker
boom and its gaff nro shewn to be nested.
Fig. 3 shews the arrangement of the sails when the vessel is sailing before the
wind, and comprises port and starboard spinnaker sails 54 and 55 and the port und
starboard apinnaker topsails 56 and 57, all of which is independent of the mainboom
and its gaff. This comprise the whole of the sail plan when the vessel is running
before the wind, and by decrensing the number of sails it will be seen that the
dangerous operation of jibbing and handling other small sails is avoided. Fig. 8
shows a spinnaker and port and starboard topsail 58, which is well adapted to be used
in place of the spinnaker topsails 66 and 57, and which consists of a single sheet
having its outer ends carried by the spinnaker gaffs and having at its lower corner
a slit 50, which receives the halyards 15 of the main gaff and which permits the sail
to project below the same and to a point commensurate with the jaws of the main
gaff. This sail may be used with or without a topmast and is independent of the
saine.
It will be obvious that the armugement of sails above described does not exhaust,
by any means, the variation which may be resorted to, and it will be understood that
these variations may be made at any time and to any extent without departing from
our invention, and also that the armngement of halyards and sheets shewn and
described is not complete as will be necessary in the priclically operative vessel; but all
of this is a matter of embodiment only and does not relate to the essence of the
invention.
The crutch 63 at the outer end of the bowsprit. 4 is for nesting the spinnaker
boons 21, and is preferably a tmnsversely-extended section of cast metal provided
with a central eye which receives the bowsprit and with end notches 60 for receiving
the respective spinnaker booms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1) In a sailing vessel the combination with the hull of a mast, two steps rigid ou
the hull of the vessel and arranged one at each side of the mast, the steps
being independent of the mast and near the sides of the hull, and a spinnaker
boom pivotally mounted on each step substantially as described.
(2) In a sailing vessel, a spar, the same consisting of two sections, a land secured
to each section and slidably embracing the opposite section, a palley connected
with each band, and a halyard operating over the pulley, and connected to the
remaining band substantially as described.
(3) In a sailing vessel a bowsprit, two steps rigidly secured one on each side of
the hull, a spinnaker boom pivotally mounted on each step, and a crutch carried by
the howsprit and having a notch at ench side of the bowsprit substantially as
described.
(4) In a smiling veseel, a centmlly disposed mast, a boom supported thereon, a
main-gaff, a spinnaker boom mounted at each side of the mast and each of said
booms having two sections slidably mounted on each other, and a spinnaker-guff for
ench spinnaker, the said gaffs being each composed of two slidably mounted soctious,
ench being carried on the mast, said mast. being the sole support of all the gaffs,
substantially as described.
(5) In a sailing vessel, the combination of a mast n main-boom thereon, a mainsail,
a stop rigid with the hull of the vessel and separate from the mast, a spinnaker

page_text: boom bearing on said step, and a spinnaker sail capable of supporting the spinnaker
boom, substantially as described.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicants.