IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRIT SAILS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO SEA GOING BARGES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rowden of Whitstable in the County of Kent
Master Mariner and Charles Edward Doughty of Margate in the same County
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRIT SAILS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE
TO SEA GOING BARGES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rowden and Charles
Edward Doughty at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
6th September 1882.
WILLIAM ROWDEN of Whitstable in the County of Kent, Master Mariner, and
CHARLES EDWARD DOUGHTY of Margate in the same County, "IMPROVEMENTS
دو
IN SPRIT SAILS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO SEA-GOING BARGES."
The present Invention relates to improvements in what are known as "sprit sails,"
the object in view being to render them more easily handled and to secure greater
facilities in the navigation of such vessels as usually carry them, and more
especially sea-going barges.
Instead of the ordinary undivided sprit sail, as at present used, which sail is in
one and has a sprit laid across it from the peak to the foot, we divide the sail into
two parts so that either one or both can be set or reefed at pleasure.
In the ordinary form of sprit sail a large rope (in some cases a 9 inch rope) is
sewed along the head of the sail for the purpose of supporting the weight of the
sprit, the sail being unattached to the sprit except at the peak and the foot.
Instead of this large rope, we use a wire stay stretching from the lower part of
the mast head, to the upper end of the sprit, and on this wire stay we set the
upper part of our sprit sail, hanks secured to the sail and travelling on the said
stay, allowing it to be readily set or furled from the deck.
The "weather" of the upper sail is secured to the mast by hoops or their
equivalent in the usual manner. The lower edge of the upper part of our divided
sprit sail is secured by bowlines rove through blocks on the sprit.
The lower portion of our divided sprit sail may be attached to the sprit by
lacing or by hanks running on a "jack stay."

page_text: In case of bad weather the upper portion of the sail may be furled, and the
vessel navigated by the lower portion alone, in suitable combination with the
other sails of the vessel, such as the topsail and stay sail, which remain unaltered
by our Invention. Should the lower portion of the sprit sail be carried away, the
upper portion may be set. When jibing the advantage of having a divided sprit
sail is very great, as there is considerable risk of the sprit breaking owing to the
vibration caused by its suddenly swinging from one side to the other of the
vessel.
Attempts have been made to decrease this risk by making the sprit telescopic,
and reefing the lower part of the sail, but this is an operation which takes con-
siderable time to effect, whereas by our divided sprit sail we can quickly brail up
the lower portion, when jibing, and only leave the comparatively small upper
portion set, thereby allowing the sprit to shift over without much vibration.
Should, however, the sprit break from any cause, the peak of the upper portion of
our divided sprit sail, may be secured to the stern of the vessel, and a useful
temporary sail be thus quickly adapted.
A further advantage in thus dividing the sprit sail is that the lower half may be
brailed up when sailing among craft in a river or bay, thereby enabling the
steersman to see vessels approaching on his leeside.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Rowden and Charles Edward Doughty in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th March 1883.
WILLIAM ROWDEN of Whitstable in the County of Kent, Master Mariner, and
CHARLES EDWARD DOUGHTY of Margate in the same County "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRIT SAILS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO SEA GOING BARGES
"
"
The present Invention relates to improvements in what are known as "sprit
sails the object in view being to render them more easily handled, and to secure
greater facilities in the navigation of such vessels as usually carry them, and more
especially sea-going barges.
Instead of the ordinary undivided sprit sail as at present used, which has a sprit
laid across it from the peak to the foot, we divide the sail into two parts, so that
either one or both can be set or furled at pleasure.
In the ordinary form of sprit sail, a large head rope (in some cases a nine-inch
rope) is sewn along the head of the sail for the purpose of supporting the weight of
the sprit, the sail being unattached to the sprit except at the peak and the foot.
Instead of this large rope, we use a wire stay stretching from the mast head to the
upper end of the sprit. This wire stay also serves to support the upper part of our
sprit Bail.
The lower portion of our divided sprit sail may be attached to the sprit by lacing
or by hanks running on a "jack stay."
In the accompanying drawing we have shewn, at Fig: 1, a side view of a barge
provided with our divided sprit sail, both portions being set; and at Fig: 2 a similar
view of a barge, with the upper part of the sprit sail furled."
A is the mast and B the sprit a. is the wire stay which is connected at one end
to the mast head, and at the other to the upper end of the sprit, and serves to
support the weight of the sprit.
The upper part C of the sprit sail is connected to this stay a. by hanks or rings b.
which slide freely on the stay, and allow of the sail being readily set by hauling on
the halliards c. which are rove through a block d. at the outer end of the sprit.
The " "weather of the upper sail is secured to the mast by hoops e. or their
equivalent in the usual manner.
"
The lower edge of the sail C, may if desired, be secured by bowlines rove through
blocks on the sprit.
The lower portion B of our divided sprit sail we attach to the sprit by lacing as
shewn in the drawing or by hanks or rings running on a "jack stay
"
The foot of the sail D is secured by a sheet in the usual manner. Both
sails C and D are provided with brails f. those for C being rove through
blocks f. secured to the mast and those for D through sheaves f³, fastened on the
sprit B.
In case of bad weather, the sail C may be furled, and the vessel navigated by
the sail D alone, or vice versa, in suitable combination with the other sails of the
vessel, which remain unaltered by our Invention.-Should the lower portion of the
sprit sail be carried away, the upper portion may be set.-When jibing the
advantage of our divided sprit sail will be very apparent, for under a large single
sail there is considerable risk of the sprit breaking, owing to the vibration caused
by its suddenly swinging from one side to the other of the vessel.
Attempts have been made to decrease this risk by making the sprit telescopic,
and reefing the lower part of the sail, but this is an operation which takes con-
siderable time to effect besides being an expensive arrangement of sprit, whereas by

page_text: our divided sprit sail, we can quickly brail up the sail D when jibing, and only
leave the comparatively small sail C set, thereby allowing the sprit to shift over
without much vibration.
Should however the sprit break from any cause, the peak of the sail C may be
secured to the stern of the vessel, and a useful temporary sail will be thus quickly
adapted.
A further advantage in dividing the sprit sail is, that the sail D may be brailed
up when sailing among craft in a river or bay, thereby enabling the steersman to
see vessels approaching on his lee-side.
Having now described the nature of our Invention for "Improvements in sprit
sails especially applicable to sea going barges" and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect We claim
Forming sprit sails in two parts substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein shown and described
In witness whereof I the said Charles Edward Doughty have hereunto set
my hand and seal the third day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three