Page 157 - The New Encyclopedia of Knots

S

Safe working load: the estimated load that a rope can bear without breaking, taking into consideration
its condition and age, as well as the knots used in it and the purpose to which it is being put; see also
breaking strength.

Sailmaker’s whipping: not as secure as needle and palm whipping (see page 120), but an acceptable
alternative when a needle is not available.

Make a bight with the whipping twine around a single strand of rope, pulling it down to the bottom of
where the whipping will begin. Then take both ends out between the other two strands, retaining a

bight.

Lay all three strands of the rope together, twisting them between your thumb and forefinger if
necessary to get them to lie better together. They can be held while the turns are taken with the
whipping twine, working back towards the end of the rope. Now, holding the whipping tightly, take
the original bight formed in the twine at the foot of the whipping, and slip it over the end of the strand

it was formed around. Then haul this tight by pulling on the end projecting from the lay beneath the
whipping. Weave this end to the top of the whipping and tie it with the other end of the twine (figure
111), pulling tight the twine to complete the whipping.

figure 111