Posted by Roy Mengot on June 04, 2000 at 22:58:44:
In Reply to: Mast installation ( to go along with my Marconi wire question) posted by Doug May on May 31, 2000 at 15:23:26:
: To everyone again:
: I have another question to go along with my rigging installation question I posted earlier.
: How were the masts installed on the ship? Aren't the masts created in sections rather than just one big, long pole? I believe the masts are made of steel and teak wood on top, am I correct?
: So, were the masts all connected in sections on the deck at one time, then hoisted vertical to their full length, or were they assembled some other way? Maybe vertically, section by section?
: And when the rigging was attached between the masts and the structure of the ship, were the rigging lines tightened at the deck levels rather than at the mast attachment points?
The masts going to be built up in sections and rigged as they go up. It would be bad form to raise the whole mast and have a sudden thunderstorm blow it down beforethe rigging is complete.
Both masts are based on C-deck and have flanges at all decks above. The masts are hollow steel until the very last section which is teak. I don't have the particulars on the antenna's, but it would be easiest to rig the masts fore and aft and then assemble the antennas on the deck, hoist them, and bring them taught. Judging from the sag in the radio antennas, they are not there to provide any support to the masts.