Safety pins for model ships

Shear pins have been used for centuries on square rigged ships as a means of securing the rig in motion. To examine the historical development of the shear pin, we must study the development of the square rigger. Belaying pins are also known as belay bollard, chess tree, kevel, cleat, riding bollard, and belay cleat.

It is likely that safety pins were used in some way before the 14th century. The word first entered the English language sometime during the 16th century.

The period of greatest development of sailing began with the use of the perpendicular square sail in the Mediterranean in the mid-14th century. Until the 15th century, square-rigged ships mainly carried a mast with a sail. There have been examples of an additional mast raised above the fantail as early as the late 14th century, but it was not until the 15th century that these installations became common. It was during the 15th century that masts and sails were enlarged on sailing ships not only in number but also in size. As the rig with more mast and sails developed, the size of the sailboat also increased. As rigging became more complex, it would be safe to assume that the trim elements used to control sails would also become more widespread.

Battens began to replace kevels with the advent of steam power in the 19th century.

However, as hulls became more expansive, this development affected the use of the rig and thus the sailing characteristics of the vessel. The towering castles made the ship heavier and more prone to capsizing in high winds. The large superstructures also caused wind resistance when the ship was under way and could reduce the wind hitting the courses or lower the sails, i.e. the mainsail and headsail. The mooring bollard was an excellent tool allowing for the speed and ease with which a line could be deployed, moored or released. When the pin is pulled, the line drops to the deck in an unraveled pattern, ready to run free.

A safety pin is a solid wood or metal object used to secure tackle lines. They were made of hard wood, usually carob, and sometimes bronze, iron, or brass. Metal pins of the size needed would be enormously heavy. The molten metal would not have been able to withstand the strain.

The size of the pin is directly related to the size of the ship, as the diameter of a pin was never less than the diameter of the rope to be secured. As only one size of kevel was carried on board, its diameter was that of the thickest rope to be tied. Pin shapes varied slightly, but all had rounded ends (handles), most had shoulders on the tops, and a slight taper on the shaft. The shaft is 2/3 the length of the pin and 1/2 the thickness of the handle.

The shaft is inserted into a hole in several strategically placed wooden rails (lining the inside of the bulwarks, surrounding the base of the masts, or freestanding, called fife rails) to the base of the handle. Short pins, attached to the standing rigging, are called “pin-racks”, and around the mast on deck, rectangular or U-shaped racks, called “fife-rails”, are used to moor and store halyards.

The advantages of a safety pin are the spooling and storage of excess line. Hanging excess lines on these pins prevents moisture from being trapped and the resulting dry rot. Another advantage is the speed and ease with which you can drop a line that is made quickly. When the pin is pulled, (although not really recommended) the line falls to the deck in an unraveled pattern, ready to run freely. Safety pins provide increased friction to control a line. Pirates used these accessories as additional weapons available to knock out their victims.

A line is passed under and behind the base of the pin and then around the top in a figure 8 pattern until at least four turns are completed. The lines are not tied or knotted, the last ‘twist’ is snapped between the top of the pin and the first twist with a firm pull at the ‘tail’ end of the line. The free line is then coiled and secured to the top of the safety pin by taking the last foot or so of line (actual length depends on spool size) between the pin and the spool and making a half twist. that wraps around the coil and around the top of the pin.

If the line is to be pulled, one or more crew members will pull the line over the pin. The crew member providing the ‘tail’ will pull the line through the pin ‘S’ wrap and hold the tension. The friction of the ‘S’ wrap prevents the line from backing up. When the line to be pulled goes down vertically to the pin, the first loop can be left in place so that the line goes down, around the back of the bottom of the pin, and then through the cover.

Lines under tension can be released in a controlled manner by leaving the first turn on the pin to provide friction. Lines subject to very heavy loads, such as topsail halyards, are fitted with short butt lines attached near their pins. These are wrapped around the pull line and fastened to prevent it from moving.

Excess line is neatly coiled and stored by taking a sine from the top of the end line, twisting it over and over under the coil, then twisting it one or more times before slipping the twisted end over the top of the safety pin to secure the coil in place.

For the model ship builder, shear pins can be turned into the most basic lathes from brass, bronze, or scrap hardwood…or better yet, contact Cast Your Anchor at Cast Your Anchor or contact us at Cast Your Anchor 416-686 -8529 for all your ship modeling needs.