Page 552 - The Ashley Book of Knots

PRACTICAL MARLINGSPIKE SEAMANSHIP

front. When there are three crossing parts on the back and two

on the front, the turns are knotted with a FLAT KNOT (% 33 8 5).

3397. The clews of square sails originally were a part of the bolt-

rope, and were seized in with a short round seizing. Fourteen turns
I 3591

were allowed for the eye.

3398. A double strapped block had a "double crossed" round

• •
seIzmg.

3399. To seize in a thimble by hand. Stop the cringle with marline

or small stuff at the breast of the eye with several round turns, and

hold it in a vise with the legs uppermost. With racking turns heave

the eye around the thimble. Put on a round seizing. If the rope is

large, a Spanish windlass (~2024) may be required.

3400. Racking seizings are always used with wire rigging or

wherever excessive strain is expected. The under turns are racked

and set up with a marlingspike. The riders are set up hand taut and

crossing turns are added. Finish off as a round seizing.

3401. Double racking seizing. When sufficient turns have been

taken, stick the parallel ends out to the surface at the center. Take

riding turns with each end away from the center and lead ends

underneath and back to center. Add crossing turns with the ends in

opposite directions. Tie a WALL in each end, on opposite sides. 9f>

3402. A lineman's seizing is made of "electric tape."

3403. When a CUT SPLICE was not served over it was seized. Be-

ginning with round turns at the neck, it was finished off at both ends

with racking turns through the crotch.

3404. A single or simple clinch is also called single throat seIzing,

pigtail and monkey's tail when used as a stopper. It has neither

riders nor crossing turns and the ends are secured as in %3393.

Pigtails are put in running rigging about ten feet from the ends to

prevent unreeving at the fair-leader racks. 3406

3405. A "half a crown" is put in the middle of the back ropes and

passes around the end of the dolphin striker. It has both riding turns

and crossing turns.

3406. A CUCKOLD'S NECK is a SEIZED EYE without riding turns, but

with crossing turns; it is to be found in jib and staysail pendants,

40,
bridles for various purposes, and in can-hook straps.

3407. An INSIDE CLINCH has two or three round seizings (% 33 95),

which are termed "bends." Formerly the RUNNING CLINCH was

the conventional method for bending a cable to the bower anchor.

It was also used in making fast buntlines and in securing bowline

bridles to the cringles.

3408. The OUTSIDE CLINCH was sometimes used on an anchor, or

"on any rope you wish to let go smartly," but the INSIDE CLINCH

was safer. Any clinch, to be safe, must be smaller than the ring or

cringle to which it is bent.

3409. A nineteenth-century forestay collar was placed around the

bowsprit and was lashed to the ends of a double fOl'estay.

3410. A throat seizing is a seize~ round turn. It is used when turn-

ing in deadeyes, and has riding turns but no crossing turns. The end

of the stay or shroud should first be stopped around the deadeye

as shown. At sea a Spanish windlass (~2024) is generally used for

the purpose. Ashore rigging screws and vises are employed,

3411. Single crossing turns are sometimes added to one side of

the seizing of a CUCKOLD'S NECK (%3406). This was done with a

marling needle, on the inner side of the seizing only.

3412. In the nineteenth century a throat seizing was sometimes

used for strapping blocks. The crossing turns were taken only in

[ 543 ]