SPLIT BACKSTAY CHAINPLATE FOR MAIN

Bob,

Starting with the last: the main back stay tails terminate on the bulwarks well aft. I'll look for a picture that show it. The attached picture shows the main back stay chainplate from the inside, By measuring off another picture from the outside, and from aft of the chainplate and comparing at a level about on the plain of the top of the caprail the position of the backstay is 75% the distance between the mizzen shrouds, aft of the shroud chainplates. That's not the position of the backstay chainplates because the back stay tail are on quite an angle to the caprail and therefore a (little) distance aft of where the tails cross the caprail. There are three through bolts mounting these chainplates and they are short compared with the other chainplates. Just flat bars that are bent to the angle of the backstay.

NOTE: My suggestion (or what I would do if it where mine) is to place these after the masts are up and the rig is basically tuned. Make sure the main mast is straight by sighting up the after stave of the mast (don't let the jib stay pull the mast head forward; to aid in this, bring the main halyard to the mizzen mast above the housetop and with a loop of rope, attach the halyard there and take up on the main halyard and the jib stay to bring the main mast head to proper position. The main halyard is acting as the main back stay). Now bring the tails of the back stay aft to near their location and somehow tie off near the ends so that a fair amount of tension is applied. The tails should have their turnbuckles, toggles, and chainplates all attached. Extend them down and back so they are inline with the tail and hold (clamp?) the chainplate in place. Pencil in the lower bolt hole for each chainplate then drill a bolt holes. Now, bolt the plates to the bulwarks with those single lower mounting bolts and tighten. Re-clamp the chainplates keeping them in line with the tails and mark the two remaining holes, If the clamp covers a hole, just drill the exposed one on each side then bolt them and remove the clamps. Now finish the job by drilling the remaining holes and installing the bolts. Now tune the back stay tails. This will insure that the chain plates will be in line with the tails. You should start this with the turnbuckles turned out to their fullest length.