Page 20 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice
P. 20

I am writing this Introduction some 13 years   Because this is only a book, and not five years with
             after the first publication of The Rigger’s Apprentice.  a master, one will find a limited sort of apprenticeship
             In the course of those years I’ve run a bit of cord-  here. It may propel you to work up a new gang of
             age and wire through my loft, hung from a lot of  rigging for your boat; it will improve your handling of
             masts, and waved good-bye from a lot of docks and  rope, wire, and rig; and if you ever have to improvise
             decks. All those experiences changed and expanded  a jury rig, it will stand you in good stead. If you like
             my perspective. So when it came time to rewrite The  what you see here and want to continue, then find a
             Apprentice, it changed and expanded, too.   rigger to teach you more. Watch, badger, cajole, do
                Much of the new material comes from folding  scut work, even pay for lessons: Learn.
             in the contents of my second book, The Rigger’s   If your marlingspike expertise is past the
             Locker. But much of it, like the section on “exotic”  apprentice stage already, consider this a collection
             braided-rope splicing, is truly new, added because  of variations on old themes, many little-known, that
             its absence would have too seriously compromised  you might find useful. Tradition involves constant
             the apprenticeship.                         upgrading.
                Much of the old material, though polished a bit   While writing this book, I have tried always to
             for this edition, is the same unapologetically out-  keep in mind the virtues of resourcefulness, sim-
             dated stuff it has always been. Like a good martial  plicity, and enduring strength; they are conducive
             art, it is still breathtakingly effective, still demands  to good rigs, and to happiness. So I trust that what
             skill, discipline, and intelligence on the part of its  follows will be not only a collection of procedures,
             practitioners, and will still get you through tight  but an enjoyable way of proceeding.
             spots when more modern concepts jam and fail.








































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