Page 600 - The Ashley Book of Knots

DECORATIVE ;\lARLI~(;SPlhE SF.\.\L\~SHIP (APPUFD K~()TS)

En: in the end of a four-strand rope. '\L1rk the rope with light stops

at fifteen-inch interv,lis. Reeye all chocks and stop them ncar the

bottom of the rope. Hang the rope upside down at a good \\orking

height and at the first stopping put in a STA;\DI;\(; TLKK\-lh\Jl

(#1283) of heavy marline, FOUR-BIGHT x THREE-LEAD X THREE-

PL Y. Put the first chock in place and add a similar knot close to the

other end of the chock. Continue until all chocks arc in place, then

lea\'e a t\\"o-foot end and tie a .\l.<\TTHF\\O 'VALKFR K:wrr (~6H;). 3834

3836. A Jacob's ladder has round rungs that are generally of oak

or ash but sometimes of iron. A pilot'S ladder (~3 H4 I) has Rat trcads

and generally side pieces as \\ell. Except for this distinction, ladders

are classified according to their m:lterial, position or use: as side,

rope, accommodation, companion, stern, hatchway, etc.

The sides of Jacob's ladders are made preferably of four-strand

fOpe, and, if of ?danila, these are ahout two and one quarter inches

),\ circumference. "liddle a rope and seize in a THI'\IBLE EyE. The

strands are opened enough to receive the rungs, which are seized in

at approximately sixteen-inch intervals. Finally the lower ends of

the rope are spliced together. According to Steel's text and illustra- 3836

tions, a light line called a "concluding line" is added as shown, pre-

sllInabl}o for gathering up the ladder. There is another interpretation

of the "concluding line," given here as ~ 3844.

3837. Sometimes Jacob's ladders are fitted with a pair of beckets

instead of a single one; this is to prevent spinning.

3838. A rung notched on one side oIll}' and made fast with an X

"
"
seIZIng.
)838

3839. A large flattened rung with a hole bored in each end is

occasionallv seen and is ver\, comfortable indeed for bare feet.

• •
Sailors of Illany nations go barefoot except when in cold waters. This

rung is generally seized in, but it llIay have a STANDING TURK'S-HEAD

above and below.

3840. The most usual way of fitting is the one given here. The ...... , ........ , .. --

rung is turned in a lathe with knobs in each end. The knob is entered 383')

between the strands of the rope and either sized in or else secured •

above and below with STA:\"D1NG TURK'S-HEADS.

3841. A pilot ladder consists of a series of sections, each composed

~f two "punkin-seed cheeks" lIlorticed to a flat tread. Sometimes

two parallel rungs, close together, were used instead of a single flat

tread. The edges of the cheeks arc deeply grooved to receive the

.. ,,,.

ropes. The side ropes arc doubled and a THIMBLE EYE is seized in the

center of each; a second seizing is put in a short distance below the

first, and then a cheek is seized in. Between two cheeks on a side is

a doubled section of rope several inches in length. \Vithout these
3841

the ladder will not fold up into convenient form for stowing.

3842. Another type of pilot ladder is made with longer, narrower ! I
I '

checks and narrower treads.
\ \ '

3843. Between two of these cheeks, one of each pair of ropes is ~\5=i

rove between the strands of its companion rope and, after being I I

I

pulled up snug around a cheekpiece, the two are given a long seizing.

Seizing ~ 3433 is then put into each end of the cheeks.

r 59 1 ]