Rope Construction

Natural fibre ropes are made from fibres of varying lengths. These are then twisted together into yarns. Next a certain number of yarns are twisted together to form strands, the number and size of yarns used depends upon the size of rope being made. Three or four strands are now laid to make up a right-hand or left-hand laid rope.

Hawser Laid Rope This is a three stranded rope which is laid up right or left handed. .	Shroud Laid Rope This is a four stranded laid rope. The four strands are laid around a heart
Cable laid rope This is made from three hawser laid ropes, It is usually laid up left handed
Plaited Rope The rope may be constructed of 16 strands but is more popularly 8 strands

Elementary Safety Rules for Handling Ropes and Hawsers.

• Look at the end of the rope or hawser and determine which is the running end, the standing part , the hauling part, and which part forms a bight or a coil.
• Never wear finger rings , they may get caught. 
• If avoidable, never stand below any  object that is being lowered or hoisted.
• Never stand within a bight or coil.
• Wear a safety hat whenever you are working in an area with loads or equipment that is being raised above head height.

Coiling Down a Rope


 A rope is coiled so that it is ready for running.
 It is coiled the way in which the rope is laid
 eg.: if it is a right hand laid rope then it is coiled to the right.

Cheesing Down a Rope


 A rope is cheesed down when a rope needs to be
 stowed away neatly.

 This method should never be used when the rope is
 required to run through a block.

Faking and Preparing a Rope for Running

 A rope, which may have to be paid out quickly
 should be faked down in as long a fakes as possible.

 A rope is faked because it requires less turns than
 when a rope is coiled, it will therefore run out
 with less chance of it getting tangled .

Belaying on a Cleat and/or Belaying Pin


 A rope is belayed to a pin or cleat when it will
 have to be cast off whilst still under strain.

 The action of belaying consists of taking sufficient
 turns around the fitting to hold the rope by friction
 when it takes the strain.

West Country Whipping.
A whipping is the binding around the bare end of a rope to prevent the strands from unlaying.
It should be applied as taut as possible, this will prevent it from slipping off and prolong its life.

This whipping is the easiest and can be applied to any type of rope or part of the rope.

Middle the twine on the rope in the required position.

Pass the two ends around the rope in opposite directions and tie a half hitch.

Pass them around the rope and tie another half hitch opposite the first one on the other side.

Continue in this manner, until you reach the end of the twine and then we finish it off with a reef knot.

Bends & Hitches

Most Bends & Hitches consist of a combination of two or more of the elements shown below

A Bight		A Round Turn		A Half Hitch
	A Twist		Overhand Knot

Various Knots, made using the elements shown above.

FIGURE OF EIGHT KNOT Used to stop a rope from un – reeving through an eye or a block		REEF KNOT Used to tie two pieces of rope of equal thickness together
ROLLING HITCH Used to secure a rope to a spar when Sideways pull is expected		CLOVE HITCH Used to secure a rope to a spar
SINGLE SHEET BEND Used to secure two ropes of unequal thickness		DOUBLE SHEET BEND For a more secure version or when the sizes of rope vary greatly
TIMBER HITCH To secure a rope to a spar or bale		BOWLINE Lifeline or temporary eye
FISHERMANS BEND Used for securing a rope to an anchor		HEAVING LINE KNOT

Strops & Lashings

Common Strop: Made from a short length of rope with the ends bent or spliced together.

Bale Sling Strop: Similar to a common strop but much longer. Used as a sling for hoisting large objects.

Salvage Strop: Has same use as a common strop except that it will resist a sideways pull. Made up of from spun yarn, formed around two pegs in a continuous loop until the required thickness is required. Finished by marling the strop.
Note:
HAS NO SPECIFIED STRENGTH SO NOT FOR USE WHERE LIFE IS AT RISK!
 

Grommet Strop: Formed from one strand of a rope and laid up in a ring. It will then resemble the original rope. The strongest strop is a wire grommet strop.
 

Strop on a Spar

Strop on a rope

Lashings

The Square Lashing

For joining poles or spars at right angles
 

The Diagonal Lashing

For joining poles or spares at acute angles