Page 31 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice
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but a marlingspike will do in a pinch. One might say  tension will soon become apparent; nothing looks or
                  it is used with absence of mallet. For more on service,  works worse than a slack or lumpy seizing.
                  see Chapter 6.                                  The Round Seizing is ideal for ditty bag, water
                      As turns of service are taken, the hauling part  bucket, bosun’s chair, deadeye, and many other
                  shortens. When it becomes too short, the hitch is  lanyards, as well as for joining grommet, shell,
                  capsized back into a straight length that in a few  sheave, and thimble together for a rope-stropped
                  more turns becomes part of the service itself. This  block (see Figure 2-22). What’s more, it can be
                  capsizing calls to notice a hidden characteristic of  used in combination with other knots for added
                  the Marlingspike Hitch. Notice that the direction  security. As an example of the latter, consider the
                  from which strain comes on the knot minimizes any  Anchor Hitch (see Chapter 3) with the end seized
                  tendency for it to jam. To prove this for yourself,  to the standing part. This is neat, strong, and easily
                  make the knot and anchor both ends. When it is  cast off to stow the anchor or to shorten the rode if
                  pulled on from the wrong direction, it tends to slip  it becomes chafed. When made on wire rope (see
                  around to one side of the spike and jam there. But if  Round Seizing, Chapter 6), seizings can provide
                  pulled the other way, it will remain stable, and dis-  strength and security to rival any other terminal.
                  appear without any fuss once the spike is removed.  But when made on rope, no matter how tightly and
                  Be careful, then, to make the hitch as shown.  how well, they will slip under heavy lengthwise
                                                               loads. This is because, unlike wire rope, fiber rope
                  Seizings                                     shrinks significantly in diameter in a heavy load.
                  Now consider seizings, a more sophisticated variety  Spectra is even worse, because it is also very slick.
                  of binding knots than service. Seizing is defined in  Use seizings on rope with caution, and only for lat-
                  Steel’s Elements of Mastmaking, Sailmaking, and  eral loads.
                  Rigging (see Bibliography) as “joining two ropes, or   No maintenance is needed for temporary seiz-
                  the ends of one rope together, etc., by taking several  ings, but it’s an important consideration when you
                  close turns of small rope, line, or spun yarn around  want your work to last. Rope rots, but as with wood
                  them.”                                       or wire, regular inspection and maintenance will pro-
                      That’s right: A seizing is basically service made  long its working life. If a stretch of service receives
                  around two or more parts. But the function is dif-  excessive chafe, replace it, then double-serve (two
                  ferent, since a seizing does not just sit on a line—it  layers) or leather that spot to ease the problem. Seiz-
                  must hold separate lines together against lengthwise  ings, too, can suffer from chafe or accidental cuts,
                  or lateral strain. There are dozens of specialized  but most often they and service are most affected by
                  seizings, but for general use the preferred knot is  water, sun, and wind. See Chapter 6 for preservative
                  the Round Seizing. It starts with a layer of “round  mixes to apply to seizings and service.
                  turns,” on top of which is laid a protective layer
                  of “riding turns,” and finally a tightening finish of  Materials   Tarred nylon seine twine makes excel-
                  “crossing” or “frapping turns” (Figure 1-12E, F).  lent seizings, but extra care must be taken to pull
                  The rigger’s way to secure the end is with a Flat  hard enough to remove initial elasticity. Used as ser-
                  Knot (Figure 1-12G).                         vice, it holds up well but is vulnerable to sunlight,
                      As with service, each turn of a seizing is hauled  so regular slushing with a preservative mix is extra
                  tight with the aid of a marlingspike, but with a seiz-  important.
                  ing one pulls harder across the face than around the   Marline is the traditional material for seizings,
                  corner. This keeps the rope from twisting as much  but has given way almost entirely to the much more
                  from the force of the turns. The riding turns should  durable tarred nylon. If nylon isn’t available, look
                  be tight, but not be so tight that they displace the  for marline made from hemp or linen. Avoid jute
                  round turns. The importance of strong, consistent  or sisal.

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