BOSUN’S BAG
Dec 06, 2019
4 minutes
WORDS TOM CUNLIFFE
ILLUSTRATION MARTYN MACKRILL
THE HUMBLE BURTON
y old pilot cutter sailed with her original 1911 boom while I had her. It was 30ft (9.1m) long, 8in (20cm) in diameter and was solid pitch pine. I dread to think what it weighed, and taming it was of ongoing interest. The topping lifts had no problems supporting it because the hauling end of the purchase delivered a velocity ratio of 8:1. This can be achieved without massive multi-sheaved blocks by the simple means of a burtontackle. Each of the two lifts begins at the boom end and runs aloft to the
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