Page 167 - Adlard Coles "The Knot Bible"

Versatackle

All boats should carry a spare, ready-made block and tackle which can be KNOT SCORE
put to immediate use without having to dismantle half the rigging. Strength
Alternatively, this rope version will make a handy substitute. It’s not as Security
free-running as its mechanical muse, but even that has certain advantages. Diffi culty Tying
It’s distinctly cheaper, too, which means you might get tempted to set it Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
up for all kinds of useful applications!

Mechanical advantage (otherwise at each turn. Modern blocks in The versatackle can be used to
known as ‘purchase’) is a wonderful particular are sometimes fi tted with pull two objects together within the
thing. It enables you to lift or haul ball bearings which greatly reduce initial bight. Alternatively, the tail

enormous loads with minimal effort. the effort lost in the system, which of the first loop can be made longer
On boats, it’s used in the form of in some old-fashioned blocks can be and be attached to an object. Either
‘tackles’ to tension sails, raise as much as 10 per cent per sheave. way, the contraption can be used to
centreboards, and hoist dinghies. But you can make a very effective tension rigging, lash a dinghy down
Such tackles are usually made up rope tackle using loops instead of onto a deck or trailer, or even clamp
of a pair of pulleys (or ‘blocks’) with blocks. The friction caused by the wood together.
a continuous length of line running rope ‘pulleys’ will nullify some of One drawback of this system is
between them. The more turns in the mechanical advantage, but it that repeated use will cause wear
the line, the greater the ‘purchase’, will still be considerably easier than on the line – particularly inside
and the less effort required to move lifting or pulling without a tackle. the loops. If that’s the case, you’re
the object. On the other hand, more The friction also has the benefi t probably better off with a ‘proper’
turns also means more rope to pull of making the system ‘self-locking’ block and tackle.
in, which inevitably means that it – which most tackles are not. That The versatackle shown was fi rst
takes longer. said, it makes sense to play safe and published by George Aldridge in
Blocks are usually used to make lock the versatackle with a half 1985 and has been widely imitated
tackles because they reduce friction hitch, if leaving it with a load. ever since.

1 Tie an angler’s loop (page 119) in 2 Tie another angler’s loop in the 3 The distance between the two
the end of the line – leaving a long standing part. loops will determine the span of the
end if this is to be attached to either versatackle.
point (see above).

166