Page 531 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY nOOK OF KNOTS

Blocks are spoken of as eye blocks, hook blocks or tail blocks

according to their equipment; as double, threefold or fourfold ac-

cording to their size; as inner and outer, lip per and lowel·, or as work-

ing and load, according to their positions; and as fall or loose, accord-

ing to the lead of the fall. Ashore the latter are sometimes termed

the stationary and movable blocks.

3159. With a single-strapped block, the thimble and the shiv are

ordinarily at right angles to each other.

3160. Two single straps are used where great strength is needea

for heavy lifts. .

•

3161. A double strap allows the thimble to lie in the same plane

with the shiv.

3162. A single strap with lashing eyes. These are to be seized or

lashed around a spar. An EYE SPLICE is made at either end of 1;he

strap and the strap seized or lashed in place.

3163. Heavy blocks for the same purpose have a double strap.

3164. If a different lead is required, it may be provided with two

single straps.

3165. Clump blocks of the eighteenth century were turned on a

lathe before morticing. The strap shown here has a thimble seized in

at either end.

3166. For attaching the standing part of the fall to the block, a

becket of some sort must be added. Notches are made on the breech

of the block to admit the becket, which is at right angles to the strap.

The one shown here is a small grommet, which should be half the

diameter of the strap.

3167. An old way of fitting a block was with a double becket.

:3
'31 The block pictured is one of a white whalebone pair that were made

at sea about 1825. The shells are six inches long and the selvagee

straps are grafted over. The becket in this case is a small grafted

grommet.

Straps were commonly served over, but sometimes they were cov-

ered with leather or canvas and sometimes they were grafted over.

This was to prevent chafe. But some authorities held that straps

should never be covered, as they were apt to rot inside and fail with-

out warning. In recent years, only hemp straps have been served

over.

3168. The customary way of attaching the end of a fall to a block

is to eye splice it around the strap at the breech of the block. The

3' oS splice should be carefully tapered and served with spun yarn so that.

when the tackle is chockablock, the splice will not suffer.

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