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Centaur Spithead, January 1772
Memorandum
relating to the Catharpings
It is evident that the lower shrowds of a Ship, which Heels, Can not support the Mast, till they become Straight.
Let us suppose that, by the shortness of the Catharpings each Futtock Staff is, when the Mast Stands upright, drawn 8 Inches within the Place where it will Come when the shrowds are upright, (which is generally about the case in large Ships,) It is obvious that, whenever the Ship heels, so as to bring the Weather Shrowds Straight, the Lee Futtock Staff must be 16. Inches within its proper Place.
If the Ship Rolls to windward, so as to bring the Lee shrowds straight, then the Weather Futtock Staff is drawn in 16. Inches. Which continually happening in bad Weather, must be a great strain to the Shrowds, Lanyards, Chains and Catharpings, as well as to the Mast, by giving it a great deal too much Play.
But this is not the only bad Consequence - which attends that Method of Rigging, for it is to be observed that when the ship stands upright, the lower Mast and Topmast stays in a Line, and ought to have their shrowds set-up in Degrees - Proportionable to the Efforts which they have to sustain. Now when ever the Ship heels, so as to bring the Weather Shrowds Straight, the Weather Futtock Staff, by going 8 Inches outwards, does not only
slack