July 18, 1967 D. E.

DYER 3,331,348
MASTS FOR SALING WESSELS
Filed April 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet
July 18, 1967 D. E. DYER 3,331,348
MASTS FOR SAILING WESSELS
Filed April 25, 1966
2 Sheets-Sheet 2

x - Lé34
4NNN)4 - 77
 United States Patent Office 3,331,348
Patented July 18, 1967
2
3,331,348 way within the mast, provided that the mast section is
adequate.
MASTS FOR SALNG VESSELS
David E. Dyer, Southampton, England, assignor to Ian The invention is particularly applicable when an ex
Proctor Metal Masts Limited, Southampton, England, truded section hollow metal mast is used, since in that
a British company case the section of the mast may be so designed as to in
Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 544,877 corporate both the luff rope groove and the slideway.
Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 29, 1965, The invention is also applicable to reinforced plastics
18,053/65 Emasts.
9 Claims. (C. 114-90)
This invention relates to the attachment of sails to the IO
If desired, a metal or reinforced plastics section, may
be provided, which incorporates a luff rope groove and a
masts of sailing vessels, and is concerned with an im slideway, and which is to be attached to the aft face of a
proved arrangement applicable to the case where a sail, wooden, metal or reinforced plastics mast. This construc
such as a main or mizzen sail, carried abaft the mast, is tion has the advantage that if damage occurs to the luff
made fast to the mast, when set, by the engagement of rope groove or the slideway, it can often be rectified by
the luff rope of the sail in a groove (normally termed "the 15 replacing the whole or a part of this section, without
luff rope groove") which is either formed in the aft face having to scrap the entire mast or carry out a complex
of the mast or in a member carried on that aft face. repair on it.
In the conventional arrangement, when a luff rope at It will be appreciated that the exact shape of the slides
tachment method is used, the luff rope groove extends used for the inner slideway will be dependent upon the
from an upper point at or near the mast head, to a lower 20 shape of the track formed by this slideway, which may
point above deck level but some distance above the attach be male or female. Conveniently, if the slideway is in the
ment point for the boom gooseneck. When setting the sail, form of an undercut rectangular groove, T-shaped slides
the halyard is attached to the head of the sail, the upper may be employed with the head of the T engaging the
end of the luff rope is fed into the lower end of the luff undercut portions of the groove, and the body of the T
rope groove and the sail is then hoisted to the required 25 extending through the narrow slot which communicates
height. When lowering the sail, as the luff rope disengages with the luff rope groove. At the extreme end of the body
from the luff rope groove, the sail inevitably becomes dis of the T the slide can be provided with one or more
engaged from the mast. This can sometimes be a disad holes or slots to enable it to be seized to the luff rope.
vantage particularly in the larger vessels such as cruisers Other shapes of slideway and co-acting slides are within
or ocean racers where wind force may tend to make it 30 the scope of this invention.
difficult to the crew to smother a large mainsail once it Two embodiments of this invention will now be de
has become free or partially free from the luff rope groove. scribed with reference to the accompanying drawing in
This is a difficulty which occurs when changing sails or which:
comming up to moorings in a heavy wind. The object of FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side view of part of a
this invention is to provide an improved arrangement 35 mast in accordance with the invention, to illustrate how
whereby the sail can be detached completely from the mast the sail is attached to it. The sail is shown partly lowered.
when so desired (e.g. when changing sails), but yet can FIGURE 2 shows a part section through the metal mast
remain connected to the mast when totally or partially of FIGURE 1, which incorporates an integral luff rope
lowered i.e. when the whole or a large part of the luff groove and slideway.
rope is disengaged from the luff rope groove. 40 FIGURE 3 shows a part section through a wooden mast
The invention comprises a mast having a luff rope to which is attached a metal section incorporating a luff
groove, extending from a point at or near the mast head rope groove and slideway.
to a point above deck level and some distance above the FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a
attachment point for the boom gooseneck, and a slideway 45 wooden mast having a luff rope groove and slideway
within the mast, adjacent the forward wall of the luff rope formed in the mast itself; while
groove and running for part of its length parallel thereto; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a mast
the slideway extending from an upper point, which is not, to which is attached a metal section providing a luff rope
below the lower extremity of the luff rope groove, to a groove, there being a slideway attached to the inner wall
lower point which is below the lower extremity of the luff 50 of said groove.
rope groove but above the attachment for the boom goose Referring to FIGURE 1, the mast 1 has a luff rope
neck, and being adapted to carry slides or travellers at groove 2, in which slides the luff rope 5 attached to the
tached to, and extending forwardly of the luff rope of the forward edge or luff of the mainsail 6. The lower end of
sail; the arrangement being such that on lowering the sail, the luff rope groove 2 terminates at 2a, where the luff
when the luff rope disengages from the luff rope groove, 55 rope 5 can be seen emerging from the mast section. Some
the sail will remain attached to the lower part of the mast, distance below the lower end 2a of the luff rope groove,
due to the retention of the slides by the slideway. the gooseneck fitting 30 is attached, carrying the goose
Preferably, the slides are attached at intervals to the luff neck or swivel 31 attached in turn to the boom 32. The
rope of the sail at spaced intervals, e.g. of three to four boom 32 has a foot rope groove 33 formed in its upper
feet. In most cases the inner slideway will extend from 60 sail surface, to accommodate the foot rope 34 of the main
6.
the top of the mast or thereabouts, and in most cases it is Formed on the forward wall of the luff rope groove 2,
desirable for its upper end to be at a considerable distance is a slideway 7, which carries several slides 8, which are
up the mast, for example, at or near the hounds. attached to the luff rope 5 by binding 10.
In the case of wooden masts, which are still com It will be seen that the slideway 7 extends down the
monly used in smaller vessels, particularly sailing dinghies, 65
mast beyond the lower end 2a of the luff rope groove 2,
the luff rope groove is usually formed in the wood itself. and terminates at 7a just above the attachment point of
A mast of this kind may be adapted for use with the pres the gooseneck 30.
ent invention by forming an auxiliary groove in the wood Thus, when the mainsail is lowered, although the luff
forward of the luff rope groove and communicating there 70 rope
with by a slot. Alternatively, the luff rope groove may be the sail5 iscanstillcome away from the luff rope groove 2,
attached to the mast by the slides 8 and
enlarged so as to incorporate a metallic or plastics slide the slideway 7, and thus is less liable to be caught by the
 3,331,348
3 4
wind and blown out of control of the crew who are secur of such slides in that part of said slideway which extends
ing it. below said lower extremity of said luff rope groove.
Referring next to FIGURE 2, the mast 1 is of oval sec 2. A mast as claimed in claim 1, made from wood, and
tion and the luff rope groove 2 is formed by providing in which said slideway is an auxiliary groove formed in
two cheeks 3 having inwardly turned lips 4, within which the wood forward of said luff rope groove and com
can slide the luff rope 5 attached to the sail 6. On the municating therewith by a slot.
after side of the mast, inside the luff rope groove 2, there 3. A mast as claimed in claim 1, made in the form
is integrally formed a T-shaped slideway 7. of a hollow section of metal, which is shaped to incorpo
Slides 8 having holes 9 are carried by the slideway and rate both said luff rope groove and said slideway.
the luff rope 5 is attached to the slides 8 at intervals by O 4. A mast as claimed in claim 1 made in the form of a
binding 10. It will be seen that in this example the slide hollow member of reinforced plastics which is shaped to
way 7 has an external track formed by the head of the incorporate both said luff rope groove and said slideway.
T, whilst the slide 8 is shaped to have two internal under 5. A mast as claimed in claim 1, in which said slideway
cut tracks. is a separate track member attached to the forward inside
In the example of FIGURE 3, the mast 11 is of wood 5 wall of said luff rope groove.
and a section carrying the luff rope is formed separately 6. An elongated member for attachment to the aft face
as an extrusion, and attached by Wood screws 2i. The of a mast of a sailing vessel to extend between the head
luff rope groove 12 is formed by providing cheeks 13 and of such mast and an attachment point for a boom goose
lips 14, and the luff rope 15 carrying the sails 16 slides neck said member incorporating a luff rope groove ex
within it. The slideway, in this case, is formed by an in 20 tending from a point adjacent the head of such mast to
ternal track 17 having undercut portions 17a within which a point above deck level and with its lower extremity
are carried T-shaped slides 18, each having a hole 19 by some distance above said boom attachment point, and a
means of which the luff rope is attached by binding 20. slideway within said member adjacent the forward wall
In this case the slideway has an internal track and the of said luff rope groove and running parallel thereto for
slides an external track. 25 at least part of its length; said slideway extending from
As was stated hereinabove, the novel luff rope groove an upper point which is at least no lower than the lower
and slideway of the invention may be formed in a wooden extremity of said luff rope groove to a lower point which
mast. This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in is below said lower extremity of said luff rope groove but
FIG. 4. In said figure, the body of the mast is represented above said boom attachment point, said slideway serving
at 30, the luff rope groove is represented at 31, while 32 30 to carry slides attached to, and extending forwardly of a
represents an elliptical space forward of the groove, and luff rope disposed in said luff rope groove when a sail
communicating with the groove through a relatively nar is set on said mast; the arrangement being such that on
row mouth between projections 33, 33 adapted to permit lowering such sail, when such luff rope disengages from
easy vertical movement of slides in said elliptical space. said luff rope groove said sail remains attached to the
FIG. 5 illustrates the concept of associating a separate 35 lower part of such mast due to the retention of such slides
track member with the luff rope groove member. In this in that part of the slideway which extends below said lower
cross-sectional view the reference numeral 40 leads to the extremity of said luff rope groove.
rear side of a portion of the mast 1. The luff rope groove, 7. A member as claimed in claim 6 consisting of a hol
to be seen at 35, is provided by creeps 36, 36 of the low section of metal, which is shaped to incorporate both
groove member, the inturned but spaced extremities 37, 40 said luff rope groove and said slideway.
37 of said creeps providing access to space 35. A separate 8. A member as claimed in claim 6 made from rein
trackway piece 38 is secured, by conventional fastenings forced plastics.
such as rivets 39, 39, to part 40 of the mast. Slides, such 9. A member for attachment to the aft face of the mast
as are represented at 8 in FIG. 2, may be run onto said of a sealing vessel to extend between the head of such
trackway or slideway in the same manner as slides 8 are 45 mast and an attachment point on such mast for a boom
movable on slideway 7 in FIG. 2. gooseneck, said member comprising a length of rigid mate
It will be appreciated that the embodiments described rial having a substantially consistent cross-section through
are only examples, and that the invention is in no way out, and including two flanges, adapted to fit against the
limited to the particular shapes of luff rope groove slide aft face of such mast; said member also incorporating
way and slides which have been specifically described. 50 a main groove serving as a luff rope groove and extending
In particular, the general shape of the slideway and from a point at or near that end of such member which
slides depicted for the hollow mast of FIG. 2 may equally is to be its upper end, to a point adjacent but spaced
well be used in the metal section of FIG. 3; conversely, from its other end which is to be its lower end; said other
the general shape of slideway and slides depicted for the end including a slideway within said member adjacent
metal section of FIG. 2 may also be used in the hollow 55 the inner wall of said main groove and running parallel
mast of FIG. i. thereto; said slideway extending from a first point which
I claim: is at least no lower than the lower extremity of said main
1. For use in a sailing vessel, a mast having an attach groove to a second and lower point which is below said
ment point for a boom gooseneck and incorporating a luff lower extremity of said main groove but above the boom
rope groove extending from a point adjacent the head 60 attachment point on said mast, said slideway serving to
of said mast to a point above deck level and with its carry slides attached to, and extending forwardly of a luff
lower extremity some distance above said boom attach rope disposed in said main groove; the arrangement being
ment point, and a slideway within said mast adjacent the such that on lowering the sail, when such luff rope disen
forward wall of said luff rope groove and running, for gages from said main groove, the sail remains attached to
part of its length, parallel thereto; said slideway extend the lower part of such mast due to the retention of such
ing from an upper point which is at least no lower than slides in that part of said slideway which extends below
said lower extremity of said luff rope groove to a lower said lower extremity of said main groove.
point which is below the lower extremity of said luff rope
groove but above said boom attachment point, said slide References Cited
way serving to carry slides attached to, and extending for 70 UNITED STATES PATENTS
wardly of a luff rope disposed in said luff rope groove 2,454,640 11/1948 Eichner ------------- 114-90
when a sail is set on said mast; the arrangement being
such that on lowering such sail, when such luff rope dis MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.
engages from said luff rope groove said sail remains at
tached to the lower part of such mast due to the retention 75 T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.