Charles Martelli: The Naval Officer's Guide for Preparing Ships for Sea, 1834

Catarpin Legs for Lower Rigging.

Are the length from the lower part of the trusseltrees to the lower part of the hounds. They are differently fitted.

When Set Up Straight Across,

An eye is spliced in each end; they are wormed, parcelled, and served: a laniard spliced into each eye.

They are also Fitted Thus:

They are cut to a sufficient length to seize to the foremost shroud on the starboard side, go round from forward, seize to the third shroud on starboard side. They are wormed, parcelled, and served; but, before being seized to the shroud, each leg should be secured with a good long seizing, passed round both parts, close to the mast: there are often cleats nailed on the mast to keep them up.

Note. — In cutting, allowance should be made for seizing round the mast. second shroud on starboard side, and fourth on starboard side; the same on larboard side. I saw them fitted this way in two or three ships, and had nearly four years' trial in a brig, on the North American station, where they answered remarkably well, and were only once shifted during the whole time, which was through a matter of opinion. They have nearly the same advantage which is derived from having the futtock shrouds to set up to the mast, when carrying a press of sail, there being no strain on the weather rigging, as the lee does not hang on it, by being pulled over to windward, which must be the case, where they lead straight across. When the Brittannia was last fitted at Portsmouth her catarpins went straight across; she was supplied with the new topmasts, which never, under any circumstances, unless materially improved, can answer. In moderate weather they complained very much, and opened in the joint on the weather side, often two inches. The rigging being new, and the catarpins fitted as above, and our leaving for Lisbon just as the summer commenced, of course, caused the rigging to stretched very much, and the topmast rigging (which when supplied, was much older and dryer than the lower,) to snap. After fitting some new rope as topmast rigging, it was proposed (I believe by Captain Drake) to fit crowfeet to support the topmast. They were made with small rope, had three legs, and were formed round thimbles on bolts, at the required distance, which, with being carefully warped, enabled each part to bear an equal strain. They were hitched over, and parcelled and pointed.

Two straps were fitted round each mast. The three legs were secured to the futtock staves and lower shrouds, and set up to the strap round the mast, with a thimble in it, and one in the angle of the crowfoot, with a stout laniard, and when secured, were in a direct line with the futtock shrouds. These legs very much improved the stands of the topmasts, but on our arrival at Plymouth they were returned, as not answering the intended purpose; but the crowfeet have remained with the other masts, and are preferable to futtock shrouds setting up the masts, as all danger of chafe is prevented, and they answer the same purpose.

Futtock Shrouds

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Futtock Staves

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Catarpin Legs.

Before seizing these legs on, I will reeve a swifter through the blocks secured to the spar the men stand on, and get it taut; this being done, it will not require much heaving to set up the catarpin legs. The laniard being passed through the eye, crossing on the stave; it is hove up by the man on the spar, by a spanish windlass, or a heaver. When sufficient turns are passed, take two or three round all parts of the laniard; halfhitch, and seize the end.

Charles Martelli: The Naval Officer's Guide for Preparing Ships for Sea.
Richard Bentley, London, 1834 (1st). pp 65-70.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius

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