Strange names

[Lakesailor]

whilst looking around a web site on the rigging of a 3 masted barque I came across this description of part of the standing rigging "Truss-hoop Futtockring"
Is this legal and what on earth is it? Any ideas?

 

[snowleopard]

The shrouds on a square rigger aren't continuous. The lower mast has cap shrouds that hold it up, then the topmast is attached to the lower mast and the topmast shrouds run from the cap of the topmast, over the lower crosstrees and secure to a ring round the lower mast a few feet below the crosstrees, forming a diamond structure.

When you climb the shrouds you reach the bottom end of the topmast shrouds and have to climb the overhanging crosstrees leaning backwards. That bit is the 'futtock shrouds' and the iron ring they are secured to at the bottom is the futtock ring. There is a similar arrangement for the topgallant mast and in bigger ships another for the royal mast.

There are also backstays from each masthead to resist the forward pull of the sails and these do come down to deck level.

 

[tonyran]

I'm not sure if the author got this one right. A truss hoop is a metal ring fitted to the centre of a yard to attach it to the mast. The idea is to allow the yard to swing freely when changing tack. A Futtock ring is a large metal disc or plate fitted at the bottom of a top mast which the top mast shrouds are attached to. Getting up and around the futtock ring generally involved climbing up the ratlines at 60 degrees on the wrong side (or like climbing up a South cardinal if you get my meaning.)

 

[Lakesailor]

Good Grief. We have some knowledgeable people on here. I looking at some large sale models of ships at the Barrow Docks museum and wondering at how complicated it seemed.
Can you imagine how long a thread on here would run answering a question like "how should I tension my Fore runner on main lower topsail braces?" Here's the site I was looking at.

 

[mirabriani]

"Futtockring" was a similar word to the one I was muttering yesterday. I was overtaking a large Thames type barge in a wide channel. The helmsperson seemed to be behaving rather like a London taxi driver (pushing you off the road without apparently seeming to) I noticed that at a certain point my masthead burgee would reverse and I would lose speed. After several tries, apparently giving the crew some amusement, I became concerned that the beach was awfully close. Having considered shouting "starboard" and decided the helm might not have a sense of humour, I "took a penalty" and overtook her on the port side. I noticed my sailing partner tried the same in his yacht and had to adopt similar tactics, except as he passed to port , blow me, the barge moved in that direction too.
Definately a "futtockring"
Regards Briani

 

[snowleopard]

Anyone who's been up the mast on a square rigger knows and hates the futtock shrouds. Picture yourself climbing a ladder that's leaning towards you, 50 ft above the deck and moving rapidly through the air. Oh yes, and the rungs are made of rope. The alternative to the futtock shrouds was to go up through a hole in the crosstrees platform called the 'Lubber's Hole' which of course no self-respecting seaman would ever do.

(Imagine tacking one of those in a hurry when some prat in a dinghy yells "I'm racing".)