ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Masting sheer

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a big ship with a tall pole sticking up in the middle? That pole is called the mast. And sometimes, the ship needs to have a big, strong rope tied to the top of the mast to help hold it up. That rope is called the masting sheer.

The masting sheer is a really important part of the ship because the mast is like the backbone of the ship. If the mast falls down, the whole ship could be in big trouble! So, the masting sheer is there to help make sure the mast stays sturdy and in place.

Now, tying a big rope to the top of a tall mast might sound tricky, but luckily there are special tools and machines called masting sheers that make the job easier. These masting sheers help sailors lift the rope up to the top of the mast and tie it securely in place.

So, the masting sheer is basically a big rope that helps keep the mast of a ship standing tall and strong, and there are special tools to help sailors tie it in place. Cool, huh?
Related topics others have asked about: