Page 157 - Derek E. Avery - The new encyclopedia of knots

fibres, hard laid, hemp, Kevlar, Manila, medium laid, natural rope, plaited

rope, polyamide (nylon), polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, shroud
laid, ‘S’ laid, soft laid, staple, strands, synthetic rope, yarns and ‘Z’ laid.

Rope husbandry: although synthetic ropes can be stowed when wet,
natural fibre rope needs to be dried out fully. All ropes need to be kept
clean and free from grit, dirt and oil. Dirty rope should be washed
thoroughly in clean fresh water; do not use detergents on natural fibres.
Keep all ropes well clear of boilers, heating pipes and flames. Remove kinks
by coiling them and do not allow chafing. Any chafed or damaged ropes

should be repaired or replaced immediately you notice them, as weak
ropes can be dangerous.

Rope ladder knot or pilot ladder: the knot actually forms the rung of the
rope ladder, which makes an ideal short climbing aid over the side of a
boat for swimmers. It can be made on the bight of a rope with an eye, as
illustrated in figure 104, or with twin tails at the top, which can be used to
make it fast. We suggest using any strong thickish rope, of up to 15mm

(0.6in) diameter.

Make a bight in the centre of the rope, and apply a strong seizing. Form
two bights in the right-hand rope to form an S, then take the left-hand
side rope into the first bight of the S, front to back. Then take a minimum
of ten round turns, emerging from the back through the lower bight of
the ‘S’. You need to make the rung wide enough to accept your foot, but
not too wide or it will sag. Now repeat the operation by making an S
again with the right-hand (originally left-hand) rope, and turning the left-

hand rope around it as before. The rungs should be about 30cm (12in)
apart, and you can continue for as many rungs as you require, or as the
length of the rope permits. The formation of the rope ladder has been
shown loose, and with just a few turns to form the rung, in figure 104.
The rope should be hauled tight after each rung is completed.