Page 218 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

emerges directly to the right of strand #5 (Figure
6-32B), exactly where it needs to be for all con-
sequent normal tucks. (Steven Hyman and Will
Gates, fellow riggers of the barque Elissa, intro-
duced me to this technique.)

Roll-and-Tuck Again
Now you have tucked strands #1 through #5 once
and #6 twice. But pretend you are even and have
tucked them all just once. It’s easier, because from
here on you will be treating them all the same. So,
for the second row of tucks, start with #1. It’s closest Figure 6-33. Proceeding with the second row of tucks.
to the vise and comes out from under three strands. Always enter the spike under the strand from which
Enter the spike where #1 emerges, but pick up only the end to be tucked emerges. Continue in sequence
one strand. Roll back (away from the vise), break until all strands have been tucked four times.
the lay, tuck, and roll home. Take each of the strands
in succession, working away from the vise, always
entering the spike under the same strand beneath
which each end being tucked emerges (Figure 6-33).
Count the ends aloud as you go so you’ll always
know where you are in the sequence (for example,
“Row two, 3; row two, 4; row two, 5”; and so on).
If you get distracted or called away, find your place
again by going back to the top of the splice and
finding where #4 enters; it’s visually distinctive
(Figure 6-34). Count strands down from there until
you get to the bottom-most (last-tucked) strand.
The number you say when you reach it is the num-
ber of that strand.
Sooner or later you will probably tuck a strand
in the wrong place. Any time things don’t look
right as you roll home, stop and check. Remember
that each strand goes under to the tail side, over
to the standing side, then back under to the tail
side, always spiraling around its own standing-part
strand. To correct a mis-tuck, put everything in Figure 6-34. Locating strand #4 gives a point from
reverse, rolling the spike back and pushing on the which to count if you lose track. The other strands lie
strand end until it comes out, and then retucking in in relation to #4 as shown.
the proper place.
Keep tucking until you have made four full rows The Taper
of tucks (not counting the extra one for #6). Five The taper provides a gradual transition from splice
rows of tucks is the standard for a Liverpool Eye— to standing part, blurring the distinction between
that is, each strand is tucked five times. But since the two. A tapered splice is more appealing to the
you’ve done so much work already, you might as eye and less liable to snag running rigging and
well learn the proper finishing touch. sails than an untapered one—or a mechanical

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