Page 360 - The Ashley Book of Knots

LASHINGS AND SLINGS

2183. To sling a coil of rope on end: Reeve the end of a rope

through a coil and make it fast to the middle of a stout billet of

wood, which will act as a toggle.

2184. An old method by which to sling a gun or cannon: Arrange

the slings as pictured. The trunnions must be kept free so that the

gun can be lowered directly into the carriage. If a gun is to be merely

'2.18+

moved about deck the slings may be seized around the cascabel and a

stout oak plug driven into the muzzle. Sometimes this plug was fur-

nished with shivs for direct hoisting, in which case a block was made

fast to the cascabel.

2185. To sling an earthenware pipe or other heavy cylindrical

object that has a shoulder: Double two short slings and reeve one

end of each through the bight of the other. Insert the pipe as shown.

2186. If the shoulder is slight a JUG OR JAR SLING (~1l42) is safer

as it does not give when the load is eased away.

2187. When a boat is hoisted on a crane she has to be slung but,

when hoisted on davits, eyebolts are provided for the tackles. The

crane slings have to be arranged to dissipate the strain on the struc- 2.195"~ 2186

ture of the boat and, as there is little or nothing to fasten to, the lash-

ing may sometimes be quite elaborate. The method given here is

from Luce and Ward. A wooden spreader should be inserted amid-

ship to strengthen the gunnels.

2188. If a heavy boat is to be hauled ashore on rollers and the boat

is not sufficiently strong to make use of such rings and eyebolts as are

provided, more rope is called for. Sometimes there is a mast to tie to,

but generally it is best to pass a rope horizontally around the boat

and suspend it at intervals. If the painter is secured well down on the

stem, which is the proper place to tow from, the strap around the

2..187
boat may be stopped to it merely to hold the slings at the proper

level, but it should not bear any part of the pull.

2189. A "lady's chair" from a whale ship. This was made from an

oil cask and was provided so that the captain's wife, who often

accompanied her husband on voyages of three or four years' length,

could be hoisted and lowered to the whaleboat whenever boats went

p
ashore or gammed with other ships at sea. II

2190. A passenger basket used in offshore work in the Orient,

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from a photograph taken in Natal. Passengers are landed in small 0-

.. 2.188
boats and rowed ashore. Many important harbors in the East are not

provided with wharves, and many are so unhealthy that ships do not

care to tie up even where there are facilities.

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