Page 30 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

come into contact with them; on mooring lines where
they pass through chocks; and on grommets that go
around rope-stropped blocks. When sealed with tar,
service prevents rot and corrosion in the steel rigging
it covers. Made over Spectra, it protects that material
from ultraviolet as well as chafe. Served Spectra is
basically immortal.

Service
Service is properly applied, as shown in Figure
1-12A, B, over a bed of twine “worming” and tarred
canvas “parceling,” usually with a specialized ten-
sioning device called a serving mallet (see Chapter 6),

Figure 1-12A. Service applied tightly, with the aid of a
Marlingspike Hitch, provides waterproofing and pro-
tects rope from chafe.

Figure 1-12B. Worming is set tightly, filling the
spaces where moisture could gather. Parceling of
tarred canvas or friction tape provides waterproofing
and smooth bedding for service. Worming, parceling,
and serving are treated more fully in Chapter 6.

Figure 1-12C. Structure of rope-yarn splice needed to
start Round Seizing.

Figure 1-12D. Make splice and pass end through eye,
forming Slipknot around legs of line to be seized.

Figure 1-12E. Wind on tight turns, as with service,
binding legs together. When seizing is roughly square,
half-hitch at bottom and proceed to make riding turns
over first layer.

Figure 1-12F. Back at the top, pass the end through
the eye of the rope-yarn splice and make two snug
crossing or frapping turns.

Figure 1-12G. Finish with a Flat Knot on the back side
of the seizing. Haul the knot tight and cut the end off
close.

Figure 1-12H. A Round Seizing is used here to supple-
ment an Anchor Hitch.

9