Page 141 - The New Encyclopedia of Knots

figure 98.2

Pilot ladder see rope ladder.

Plaited rope or braided rope: a rope in which the strands are woven, as distinct from a laid rope. A

plaited rope does not have any inherent twist or lay; it may or may not have a heart, and it may or may
not be enclosed within a woven outer sheath.

For plaits, see chain plait, crown plait (spiral), crown plait (straight), diamond plait, double chain
plait, eight plait, ocean mat, square plait, thumb knot plait (four-stranded), thumb knot plait (eight-

stranded), twist plait, wall and crown plait, wall plait.

Pointing: provides a stiff tapered end to a rope, which thus enables it to be reeved speedily through a
block.

Apply a whipping about 150mm (6in) from the end and unlay the perimeter strands. Keeping these
‘working’ strands out of the way, taper the remainder of strands and bind them. Tie a warping strand
at the very top of the tapered strands and take a turn with it, interweaving the working strands (figure

98.1, in which we have paired the working strands). Now alter the positions of the working strands –
all down strands up and all up strands down – then take a second turn with the warp. This procedure
is repeated, dropping the odd strand as the taper narrows, until the point is reached. At this juncture

the ends are secured with a whipping or a half hitch around the warp.

Alternative hitching patterns can be applied instead of the one up, one down just described, and the
whole can be finished off with a Turk’s head (figure 98.2; see page 176).

Polyamide: widely known as nylon; this is the strongest of the man-made synthetic fibres, with the
exception of Kevlar and those which have been reinforced. It possesses excellent ‘give’, and as such
is ideal for mooring and for anchor warps where shock loads are readily absorbed. Contrariwise it is