Sunshine, and some more framing

Hoorah, dry weather. With the basic cap frame set up and lowered back onto the cap circle, attention has now turned to the additional frame members. The two diagonal braces between the weather beam and shears had somehow escaped the decay which affected the other beams, so we have reused these and fitted them into place. We have also reused the central block between these two braces, and made two new 'closers' which fill the gaps either side of this.

Diagonal braces fitted

Presumably, these braces originally helped spread the load from the weather beam to the cap circle, as well as stiffening the frame to resist thrust from the sails.

The cap is kept in position laterally by cast iron 'truck wheels' which rotate against the inside of the curb. Four of these were hung off diagonal struts running between the outside of the shears and the cap circle. We are having to remake these, as the originals had, you guessed it, decayed.

Making one of the new truck wheel supports (shown here upside down); lapped dovetail will fit into cap circle