Page 532 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 532
PRACTICAL l\IARLINGSPIKE SEAMANSHIP
3169. To make the thimble of a single block lie in the plane of
the shiv, a throat seizing (jj! 3376 or jj! 34 10) is employed. The two
ends of a ulock are not interchangeable. Only one end is sufficiently
open for reeving the fall. In this case the fall is eye spliced to the
thimble at the breech of the block.
3170. A t'U:o-shiv block leads better if the standing part of the fall
is secured to the cheek. If it is not fitted with an offset becket, the
fall may be spliced around the eye or hook and seized to the strap
twice, at either end of the block.
3169
3171. A quarter-tackle block strap is eye spliced around the block
and has a long pendant bearing a hook in the end. 3170
3172. Swig blocks have no shivs and are used to set up on the lash-
iQgs of a. whaleboat on the cranes. They resemble snatch blocks
without shivs.
3173. A topsail halyard block is seized iruo a long grommet with
a hook at the end.
3174. A pendant block strap is made with a LONG EYE that is
seized around the block with a racking seizing (jj! 3400).
3175. SPan blocks for studding-sail halyards are lashed around
masts in pairs. The blocks are seized in with a round seizing (#3388).
3176. A sheet block pendtmt for jibs and stays ails. The blocks are
'3l 11 :51 ~I
eye spliced to the two ends of a pendant. One block is rove through
the clew and given a BECKET HITCH, the knot is drawn up and
strongly seized, and the clew is seized close up to the knot. This was
shown by Lever (1808) and it is still in use today.
3177. Brace blocks are secured to stays with a seized CLOVE HITCH.
A small MOUSE is raised on the stay and the hitch is seized above
•
It. )/72
3178. A block with a collar is seized to a spar. The long leg is
hauled through the eye, laid back on it!! own part and seized in sev-
eral places according to its length.
3179. A "strap-bound block" is used on tacks, spritsail sheets, etc.
The block was made and strapped in this manner to minimize chafing
against the sails. The two ends of a strap were paslied around the
breech of the block and up through the two holes. After seizing in,
the rope was opened and a SPRITSAIL SHEET KNOT tied in the six 3115" '3' 71
strand ends. The knot was buttoned to the cle\'l of a sail, after which
the dew was stopped.
3180. A button tmd eye strap, for quick adjustment to a spar.
311 {,
Either a MATrHEW W ALKi:R KNOT or a MANROPE KNOT may be used.
3178
51
[ 5 3 J
2