Thanks for the comments everyone!
One of my early versions had a mast built out of 2 x 2 round bricks, and I found that even with technic axles down the middle it really didn't have much strength. Hence the plates through the deck of the ship for support, and the sail attachment method and ladder on the back were born of my methodology. What I would really like to use is the 2 x 2 x 3 1/3 octagonal brick:
but of course that's not available in brown. What I plan on experimenting with is the curved top 2 x 2 brick:
on the port and starboard side of the mast, but I'll have to order some...
What I don't like is the blockiness of the transitions between different layers. I think it looks fine on the front because it makes the ship look constructed out of overlayed planks (very appropriate for the model), but gives a stairstep effect on the back.
Oh well, I keep reminding myself that making any MOC based on the real world is an approximation. I'd go crazy trying to make an exact model...
Carl
"You read the manual, man, and you won't play around with it, not the same way. And you get all funny when somebody else uses it to do something you never thought of..."
William Gibson
The Winter Market