[mariner2k]

Hi Brian,

I PM'd you a photo link.

The boat is a 1988 47' ketch made by Arthur Muller of Muller Boatworks, NY. He had been a shipwright for his entire life. His yard built wooden commercial fishing vessels, they did work for the Coast Guard and were the original builders of "American Pride" schooner. (though since then many changes have been made). This is the boat that, upon his retirement, Arthur built for himself.... As his son told me, to keep him from the nursing home. She's very well built , and from what I've been told he far exceeded the safety factor on the scantlings. Mr. Muller became ill before she was finished but did get on her a few times from what I understand. The yard is still around today. I got her from the second owner who very much let some things go.
I'm muddling through the formulas in your book, but before I go any farther with the calculations I have to do an inclination test to find the righting moment. Unfortunately all of the engineering for the boat was lost due to flooding from hurricane Sandy. Eventually I would like to rig her to be able to fly a mizzen staysail.
The mainmast is independent of the mizzen, but it appears the springstay is there to support the mizzen.
Are you suggesting that forward mizzen intermediates could possible help alleviate a springstay? I'll have to give that a look. The spreaders are angled aft. The lower shrouds are actually fairly high, going fore and aft, just under the spreaders and the jumper strut. When I change the mainmast, I can change to a split backstay. Is there any advantage to having a double backstay at all?

Thanks, Kevin