what is the main mast on a boat
2006-09-25 11:52:46 · 4 answers · asked by norma 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
to answer the mast question first........
on a sail boat or ship with three or more masts, the main mast is the second back from the front and usually the tallest
on a sail boat or ship with two masts..........if the one in front is shorter its the foremast and the other, taller, is the main
if the one in front is taller, its the main and the other shorter one at the back is the mizzen
if they re both the same height the one in front is the fore and the other the main.
Confusing enough? Just wait it gets worse.
A stay is a ( today) wire cable that supports the mast, running from the deck to the mast along the centerline.
A shroud is a wire cable that supports the mast and runs from the side and up the mast.
So a main stay would be the thickest strongest cable attached to the main mast and running forward of it ( one running towards the back is called a backstay)
EXCEPT
This is only true on ships with three masts
In the cases above in a two masted boat, where the front mast is higher than the after one, it is still the mainmast but the thick wire that runs forward is not the mainstay but the forestay ( cause it runs forward) or the headstay.
Why?
Because we sailors are a cantankerous lot filled with strange talk to confuse landlubbers.
2006-09-26 01:32:50 · answer #1 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The main mast is usually the highest one.
The main stays are the top shrouds on the main mast.
To splice the main stay is to give a drink to the captain.
2006-09-26 14:18:50 · answer #2 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats the center - highest mast on a ship which carries normally the biggest sail on a sailboat or the highest mast in the center carrying the highest visible light, center - in the middle of the ship
2006-09-25 23:35:39 · answer #3 · answered by JG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tie the mates chair to it
2006-09-25 19:09:11 · answer #4 · answered by Bushit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋