Fitting light screens

[johnchampion]

I am in the process of trying to find the best place for sidelights on my Tamarisk 24 gaff cutter. The obvious place seems on boards on the shrouds but I am not sure of the best way to attach the light boards to the shrouds. Anyone have any good (or even not so good) ideas please?

 

[Peterduck]

When I made the lightboards for my gaff ketch I gave them a couple of wedges to rest against the shrouds so that the boards stood vertically. I made up a couple of U-shaped clamps out of strips of copper that I had [although aluminium would do as well and might be easier to get]. The clamps went around the shrouds and screwed to the wedges. I served the shrouds at that point to give the clamps something to grip on. Q.E.D.
[Quite Easily Done]
Peter.

 

[johnchampion]

Thanks Peter
How did you get the clamp bands tight enough to stop the boards moving on the shrouds or was this not a problem. Also did you find any chafing problems with the main against the back of the boards when running with the main let right out?
Regards
John

 

[Mirelle]

I also have wedges at the inboard side of the light boards, but mine are "lower tech" than Peter Duck's and are simply lashed with marline to the served-over shrouds.

There is a very good tip in one of FB Cooke's books - which he credits to GU Laws, the very promising designer who was killed in WW1. Fit the light boards a little above head height, and connect the two of them with a metal rod, bent back at the ends and screwed to the inner faces. This stops the lee light board flopping around when the lee shrouds go slack. I have yet to do this, but am about to.

 

[old_salt]

You mention G.U.Laws do you Know of any where I can get a copy of "Cruising Hints" Vols 1 and 2.
You may know my Gaff cutter "Mercia III" is featured in Vols 2 & 3. I am not trying to take over the topic, but both FB Cooke & GU Laws. are to be respected.

 

[Peterduck]

My ketch has three shrouds on each side, and the light baords are fastened to the forward two, so there is no conflict with the main. The service of tarred marline is there to stop the boards from slipping up and down. So far there has been no problem. I held the clamping bracket against the shroud and lightboard wedge with a G-clamp before I drilled the lead holes for the screws into the wedges. That made sure that they were good and tight.
With the problem of slackness of the leeward shroud, I tend not to worry too much, as the light is shining down into the sea. It is also for this reason that I'm not too bothered by the fact that my nav lights don't have fresnel lenses.
Peter.

 

[srp]

Re Old_Salt and Cruising Hints
Try http://www.dngoodchild.com/0124.htm

 

[old_salt]

Thank you srp01983 for your help.
I do have the book you have mentioned.
It is an Excellent American two part reprint of Vol six.
I am hoping the publisher D.N Goodchild will do reprints of vols 1 to 5.

 

[Mirelle]

Alas, no, - other than, of course, the C.A. Library!

I am prowling the secondhand bookshops myself in search of a copy!

If I find one, I'll let you know.

 

[old_salt]

Here with Mirelle's agreement is a photo copy of a page from Vol 6 of "Cruising Hints" of the arrangement suggested by G.U.Laws:-

 

[johnchampion]

Hmmm. Thanks for that Old_Salt. I can see what the idea is but the idea of a metal bar thwartships, above head height, and mixed up amongst, or at least close to, the running rigging does not inspire confidence at least as far as my vessel is concerned. I have visions of singlehandedly trying to drop the topsail and reef the main in a hurry with everything neatly wrapped around a bar above my head which is conveniently out of reach.

As I have only two, not three, shrouds I am inclined to the notion of fixing the boards lower down where they will not foul the main when it's let right out.The sacrifice of losing a bit of distance visibilty of the lights is no big deal as they will probably still be higher than most comparable sized sailing boats which would have lights on a pulpit. That means I will be experimenting with the aformentioned wedges, clamps, seizings etc unless I can think of a more elegant solution.

 

[Mirelle]

An example of the ingenuity of G.U. Laws can be seen in his use of cleats to lash the boards to the shrouds.

I've just taken my light boards down to repaint them as they had been forgotten about for the past ten years, and next Saturday morning I shall be lashing them back in place. It will take longer, fiddling a bit of marline through holes and round shrouds, than it would have done had I remembered the drawing and used cleats.

 

[Finesse]

You are not the John Champion I used to play Rugby with at Vigo by any chance are you?