Before his retirement in 1972, William L. Crothers worked as a draftsman in the design division of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He is also the author of books on the construction of American clipper ships American packets and freighters of the 1850s.

“indispensable...one of the most important studies of the glory days of American merchant sail ever published”—Nautical Research Journal.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroductionAlphabetical List of VesselsChronological List of VesselsPart I. How Masts and Spars Were Constructed1. The Evolution of Masts and Spars for the Square Rigged Vessel2. Timber Used in Mast Making3. Harvesting, Storage and Preservation of Timber4. Proportions of Masts and Spars5. A Single Tree Mast and Bowsprit6. Made-Masts and ­Made-Bowsprits7. Upper Masts8. Yards9. Booms and GaffsPart II. Masting Arrangements10. Location and Rake of Masts11. Spar Plans of American Merchant Sail in the 1850s12. The Spar MakersAppendix: Masting Tables for Categories of Vessels Included in This BookGlossaryReferencesIndex

Before his retirement in 1972, William L. Crothers worked as a draftsman in the design division of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He is also the author of books on the construction of American clipper ships American packets and freighters of the 1850s.

“indispensable...one of the most important studies of the glory days of American merchant sail ever published”—Nautical Research Journal.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroductionAlphabetical List of VesselsChronological List of VesselsPart I. How Masts and Spars Were Constructed1. The Evolution of Masts and Spars for the Square Rigged Vessel2. Timber Used in Mast Making3. Harvesting, Storage and Preservation of Timber4. Proportions of Masts and Spars5. A Single Tree Mast and Bowsprit6. Made-Masts and ­Made-Bowsprits7. Upper Masts8. Yards9. Booms and GaffsPart II. Masting Arrangements10. Location and Rake of Masts11. Spar Plans of American Merchant Sail in the 1850s12. The Spar MakersAppendix: Masting Tables for Categories of Vessels Included in This BookGlossaryReferencesIndex

Before his retirement in 1972, William L. Crothers worked as a draftsman in the design division of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He is also the author of books on the construction of American clipper ships American packets and freighters of the 1850s.

“indispensable...one of the most important studies of the glory days of American merchant sail ever published”—Nautical Research Journal.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroductionAlphabetical List of VesselsChronological List of VesselsPart I. How Masts and Spars Were Constructed1. The Evolution of Masts and Spars for the Square Rigged Vessel2. Timber Used in Mast Making3. Harvesting, Storage and Preservation of Timber4. Proportions of Masts and Spars5. A Single Tree Mast and Bowsprit6. Made-Masts and ­Made-Bowsprits7. Upper Masts8. Yards9. Booms and GaffsPart II. Masting Arrangements10. Location and Rake of Masts11. Spar Plans of American Merchant Sail in the 1850s12. The Spar MakersAppendix: Masting Tables for Categories of Vessels Included in This BookGlossaryReferencesIndex