BUILD LOG - PART IV
                    BOWSPRIT & STEPPING THE MASTS

                                                        BUILD LOG - PART IV  STARTED:  08-18-2017
                                                        BUILD LOG - PART IV  ONGOING

                                  THIS BUILD LOG IS CURRENT AS OF:  09-07-2017
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As the Log is updated it will be posted here so that if you are following the build, you will not have to go to the bottom of the page only to discover nothing was updated that particular day.

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The Bowsprit of the real Niagara.
The Bowsprit measurements are taken from the plans and drawn on the 3/8" x 3/8" piece for carving and shaping. This is an intricate part and will have a lot of detail so care should be taken to make sure all is accurate.
Marked Inboard piece dry fit for verifying lines.
Outboard view ready for carving and shaping.
Rough shaped Bowsprit and cap.
Ready to finish sanding and add the details.
The Bowsprit details are taken from the plans and transferred to the wood piece, the Bowsprit Cap  tenon is cut to fit the Cap, the Foot Treads are glued to the top, the chocks are added and the Octagon Metal Bobstaye Wye is added. Be sure to note where the Octagon shapes are and where the Round shapes are.
The Bees (3/32" thick) and the Jib Boom Saddle shown here.  The Jib Boom Saddle is rounded out for the Jib Boom to fit into.  The Saddle can be made from brass if so desired.
Shown dry fit into the opening in the Bow.
Topside view showing the Tenon cut for the Bowsprit Bitsl
Inboard view.
Jib Boom was used to shape the hole in the Bowsprit Cap and is shown here.

                                  DOLPHIN STRIKER
The Dolphin Striker is made from 3/32" Dowel, .020" holes drilled and 2 chocks.  The top side is undercut flat to attach to the Bowsprit Cap.  Two wire clamps are used to secure it to the Cap.
This picture is not real clear but is the painted Dolphin Striker.
Forward view.
Topside view.  This completes the Bowsprit construction.  The build will shift back to BUILD LOG PART II to complete the installation detail.
                                             THE GAMMONING
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The BUILD LOG has shifted back to here from BUILD LOG PART II to continue working on the Bowsprit.  The Gammoning is the black rope wrapped around the Bowsprit and the ship's Stem.  It is pictured here, but it hard to see.  It is about a foot in front of Yellow Bulwarks.  The Gammoning lashes the Bowsprit to the Stem to secure it to the Ship.
A temporary chock is glued to the end of the Stem to keep the Gammoning from slipping while wrapping it.  Once the Gammoning is wrapped and glued to the Stem it will be removed.
The Gammoning is an interesting means of tying a line around two pieces in order to secure them together.  For this I used a .040" black rope to wrap them together.  Black line is used here since it is part of the Standing Rigging of the ship.  Most of the Standing Rigging is Black since it was not adjusted much once it was installed, therefore, it was coated with tar to preserve it from the elements. The wrapping overlaps on the sides and this almost creates a figure 8 type of wrap.  In some cases once this is wrapped either the loose end or another rope goes between the Bowsprit and the Stem snugging up the lines.  That will not be used here, but could be added if another builder should desire to tie it that way.  The Real Niagara does not use this.
Port side view of Gammoning.  This picture shows the overlapping cross wrap better.  The temporary chock has been removed now that this is in place.
                                                         BOBSTAYS
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UPPER BOBSTAY

The Bobstays on ships are all rigged differently but all have the same purpose which is to stabilize the Bowsprit. Starting with a .040" drill bit, drill a hole through the Stem.  Using a .025 black line, loop it through the hole.  This is a double line so it is looped back to the Heart with both ends being seized to the Heart.  The heart is grooved to accept the 2 lines.  The line is also seized at the Stem closing the loop.  A 5 mm Bullseye is looped and tied to the Bowsprit. The Lanyard is .008 Tan Rope.
The Closed Heart is shown having been carved with the 2 lines in place and seized together to form the Bobstay. 
The Lanyard, being a working line, is Tan and .008".  It originates at the Bullseye and loops several times through the Closed Heart to tighten the lines and then Belays to itself behind the Heart with 2 half hitch knots.

This is actually the first rigging on the model and is part of the Standing Rigging.  It is tarred therefore it is a black line.  Repeat for the Lower Bobstay.

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Managed to at least make Bobstays during Hurricane Harvey (Aug 26-29-2017) which has now moved eastward.  We live on Lake Conroe, north of Houston.  We got 23.5" of rain and the lake reached it's highest level ever at 5.25' above normal level.  2 more feet and it would have been in the house.  Fortunately, we kept electricity throughout the storm.


LOWER BOBSTAY
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Both Bobstays completed.
                                                   BOOMKINS
There has been much discussion of late, concerning Boomkins on the Niagara.  This feature is not shown on the plans or book - like completely overlooked???  Not real sure the reasons this was omitted.  Boomkins sometimes known as Bumpkins play an important part of a ship's structure and are present on most all period ships even up until present day on sailing vessels.  I'm not sure the reasoning for omission, but following photographs of the present day Niagara as well as other models and the big 1/2" scale museum model I choose to include them on this model, depicted as the present day real ship which from my research represents the original configuration.  Photos below will document the present day configuration.  In my opinion, this feature is too important to omit.
Boomkin shown on real Niagara, top center with the 2 chains securing it to the Hull.  Outboard view.
Shown on the large 1/2" scale model at the Niagara Museum (the Bright finished wood reaching out over the Bow). This configuration leaves me confused in that a sailor would have to reach over the support brace to belay the forward lines in a very narrow working space, awkward to say the least.  Even though it is the Museum Model, I'm not sure this is correct - my opinion.  The Boomkins are shown to be finished Bright and have a metal strap securing them to the brace which is the way the real Niagara is configured with the exception of the Belaying Pins which are aft of the Boomkins.
Picture
 
Boomkin looking over the Port Bow Rail - Note the octagon shape.
Boomkins shown center right secured with the black iron straps with Pin Rail behind it.
Bow level picture of Starboard Boomkin with chain stays.  This is the smallest chain in my collection of small chain, probably 22 links per inch, which was fun to thread.
Top view showing iron shackle .  Now to complete the Port side.
Port Side Boomkin.
Bow view showing both Boomkins.
View showing both Boomkins from below.  This completes the Boomkins for now.  There will be rigging on the topside later.
Topside showing Boomkins and expanded Pinrail.
Boomkins and Pinrail completed.
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                                           THIS IS A BUILD IN PROGRESS.  PLEASE CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY.  

                            BUILD LOG - PART IV  IS CURRENT AS OF:  09-07-2017