Brass Rigging Gear
- Thread starter mizana
- Start date
DownWest
Well-Known Member
They are for tensioning running backstays on a gaff rigged boat.
The backstay on the side the boom is out is disconnected and let loose on a rope tie. When going about, the windward one is hooked back to the lever and the lever 'over centered' to tension it up. The stay runs through a block on the deck before being hooked up to the sliding part.
Might be called a Highfield Lever?
The backstay on the side the boom is out is disconnected and let loose on a rope tie. When going about, the windward one is hooked back to the lever and the lever 'over centered' to tension it up. The stay runs through a block on the deck before being hooked up to the sliding part.
Might be called a Highfield Lever?
Last edited:
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
More likely bronze than brass?
wombat88
Well-Known Member
Yes, Highfield levers, as you say for running backstays
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Most probably.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Modern equivalent: Backstay lever HIGHFIELD DAVEY
Tranona
Well-Known Member
On the upper one you can make out Laurent Giles - well known designer who "invented" them (or at least popularised them) in the 1930s, mainly for his racing designs which had lofty rigs that needed every bit of support available when going to wind. Those may have been, as suggested off a gaff rigged boat given the rather crude hooks. Valuable bits of kit to the right person.
