Page 102 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

So, throw your lighters overboard. A Constrictor barehanded whipping (Figure 3-45) from the Brit-
Knot or two (Figures 1-13 through 1-17) is just as ish Admiralty’s Manual of Seamanship for Boys’
handy. The classical method, the Palm and Needle Training Ships (Vols. I–II, London, 1932). It looks
Whipping, is more time consuming but is without just like the real thing and is at the very least useful
doubt the best knot for the job (Figures 3-43 and to impress your friends.
3-44). As you can see, the round turns contain the There are other preparations besides stopper
rope strands while the diagonal turns, being pulled knots and whippings for the end of your rope, of
down into the scores, tighten the whipping and course. They’re called splices, but that’s a topic for
prevent it from coming undone even if some of the the next chapter.
round turns chafe through. One has advance warn-
ing of the need for replacement.
Those of you who already know how to make
whippings might want to examine the illustrations
anyway; there are some particulars of technique
that you may not have seen before, which result in a
firmer, more symmetrical knot. If you have not been
introduced to this knot before, be assured that the
hardest thing about it is coming up with the money
for a good palm and set of needles.
Notice in the final drawing that there are two
whippings on the line, the second about three rope
diameters up from the first. This is safety and neat-
ness insurance in case the first whipping chafes
through. Otherwise you might find yourself with an
Irish Pennant—a raveled rope—something worth
taking a little extra effort to avoid, especially with
yacht-diameter rope retailing at multiple dollars
per foot.
If, as sometimes happens, you are without palm
and needle but still want something more perma-
nent than a Constrictor Knot, try this remarkable

Figure 3-45. British Admiralty Whipping. Unlay the
strands a short distance. Double a fathom of waxed
twine and loop it over one strand of the rope. The bight
end of the twine need only extend about 4 inches. Lay
the rope back up (A). Pull the twine a short distance
away from the strand it is looped around and com-
mence making turns against the lay with the long end,
as with the Palm and Needle Whipping (B). When the
turns are completed, pass the bight over the end of the
strand it was looped around. Pull on the bight end to
snug it down (C). Reef-Knot the end and bight end
together across the middle of the knot. Cut the twine
ends off and trim the rope short (D).

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