Page 131 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

694. The DOUBLE DIAMOND (with the lead followed above) is

given by Steel in 1794. The knot is doubled when a lar er knot is

desired, or if the knot is wanted for decorative purposes. I a doubled

knot is tied in a footrope, the second lead is above the first as de-

picted here, as this brings the strands closer to the center of the knot

and the rope lays up more snugly. The left diagram indicates how

the lead is started, each strand being tucked once in turn. The second

f.94 diagram indicates how the final tucks are taken to the center top.

Draw up carefully. The knot was first tied in jib-boom footropes

to prevent feet from slipping.

695. The DOUBLE DIAMOND (with the lead followed below) is illus-

trated here. When doubling most knots the lead is followed below,

but DIAMOND KNOTS are tied in either way. The British Admiralty

Manual of the Sea says that DOUBLE DIAMOND KNOTS are tied in "the

lanyards of fire buckets."

The diagrams illustrate progressively how the strands are led.

Once a lead has been started, an end must not be allowed to cross to

the other side of the strand that is being followed.

696. The FOOTROPE KNOT. "First a crown, then a wall. Tuck up,

and that's all." This is structurally the same as the DIAMOND KNOT,

but it is tied "end for end"; that is to say, it is reversed. The lead

bein more compact at the end, the knot makes a far better appear-

ing ootrope than the DIAMOND KNOT, and, the lay being smoother,

it is less subject to wear. It was first shown to me by Captain Charles

W. Smith, who also supplied the work rhyme. After crowning and

walling the rope, tuck the end to the top center as indicated in the

drawings, and the single knot is complete.

697. The DOUBLE FOOTROPE KNOT is followed above the first lead.

The left diagram shows how the ends are tucked at the center.

Tuck each strand once in turn, then tuck each strand in turn a

second time up to the center as in the right bottom diagram. Each

end passes under four parts.

698. The CAT STOPPER KNOT is used when the anchor has been

696 catted (brought to the cathead). The stopper holds the anchor while

the tackle is being shifted. One end of the stopper bears a knot, and

the other end is pointed. The pointed end is rove downward through

a hole in the cathead, passed through the anchor ring, led over a

691

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