Blocks, Tackles, Parts of a Block Cordage, Sailcloth

Toronto Brigantine Grade III

Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea

Piloting, Seamanship and Small boat handling: Chapman 1972

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Types of Blocks Types of Sheaves • Single block • Double block • Triple block • Fiddle block • Snatch block

The complete Rigger’s Apprentice, Brion Toss 1998 The complete Rigger’s Apprentice, Brion Toss 1998 The Young Sea Officer’s Anchor: Lever 1858

3 4 How do Blocks and Tackles Work?

• To lift this 100 lb weight 100 • We have added a ft you will need to pull 100ft pulley of line • But we are still lifting • There is no mechanical 100lbs and pulling 100 ft of line advantage to this • No mechanical advantage and we have only changed the direction

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• We have now added another pulley • We have now added another pulley • The ring in the ceiling is holding 50lbs, and • The person pulling is now only has to pull the pulley in the ceiling is holding 50lbs 25 lbs, but they must pull 400 ft of line to • So now the weight we are lifting is half, but raise the object 100 ft we have to pull twice as much line to raise • This a 4:1 advantage it the same amount • This a 2:1 advantage

7 8 How do you calculate your Mechanical Advantage mechanical advantage? • In a there will be a • Notice A and B are the same block and line arrangement just reversed, but B has a 2:1 stationary block that is attached to part of advantage and A only has a 1:1. This is the same the vessel, and a block attached to a for C and D with a 3:1 vs 2:1 moving object (, dory, , etc). • When the line you are pulling on is leading from the moving block it is rove to advantage, when it • When calculating mechanical advantage leads from the stationary block it is rove to focus on the moving block disadvantage • Count the number of lines entering or exiting a sheave, or attached to a becket

Classicmarine.co.uk

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Types of Purchases Single Whip

• Single Whip • Rove to disadvantage • Double Whip •1:1 • Double Purchase • Gun Tackle • Spanish Burton

bromleyseacadets.co.uk

11 12 Double Whip Double Purchase

• Rove to disadvantage • Rove to disadvantage •2:1 •4:1

bromleyseacadets.co.uk bromleyseacadets.co.uk

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Gun Tackle Spanish Burton

• Rove to advantage • Used to move cargo •3:1 • 4:1 advantage combined

Moving Rigged to disadvantage 2:1

Moving Rigged to advantage bromleyseacadets.co.uk 2:1 Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea

15 16 Combined tackles Friction

• Combined 12:1 4:1 • Friction increases as the number of sheaves increases • There is roughly a 10% increase in the “weight” of an object per sheave 3:1 • If you are lifting the 250lb AP with a double purchase (two double blocks) you would have 4 sheaves, and the 10% due to friction would be 25lb per sheave = 100lbs, for a rough total “weight” of 250lb + 100lb = 350lb • With a 4:1 purchase the weight that the person would have to pull would be roughly 350/4 = 87.5lb

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Reeving methods Types of Rope Fibres • Lacing: when blocks are facing the same direction and line is passed from one sheave to the • Traditionally made from manila, hemp, next. Lots of friction produced linen, cotton, coir, jute, and sisal. when chock-a-block, wear on cheeks and line. • Most rope is now made from synthetic • Right-angle reeving: blocks are at right angles, less friction fibers such as polypropylene, nylon and when chock-a-block The complete Rigger’s Apprentice, Brion Toss 1998 dacron. • Triple blocks should always have the fall leading from the middle sheave, this prevents the block from tipping with the force of hauling

19 20 Types of Rope fibres Rope Making

• Many fibres (A) are twisted together to form yarn (B) • Polypropylene: • Many yarns are twisted together to form strands (C) – Stiff, hard to work with, hard on the hands, very little stretch, easily damaged by UV and heat, Floats • Strands are twisted together to form rope (D) •Nylon: • Rope is twisted together to form cable (E) – Easy to work with, looses shape, easy on the hands, doesn’t float, can stretch up to 40% of its length, weak when wet • Dacron: – Easy to work with, maintains shape, easy on hands, doesn’t float, not as stretchy as nylon • Roblon: – Synthetic material (from Denmark) that looks like natural fiber, used on replica vessels

Knots, Splices and Ropework. A. Hyatt Verrill http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13510/13510-h/13510-h.htm

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Traditional Rope Making Laid Line

• Rope was made in a rope walk or ropery • Hawser • A traditional operational ropery remains in • Chatham England. It is 346m (1135 ft) •Cable long, and when constructed was the longest brick built building in Europe capable of laying a 1,000 ft (300 m) rope

http://www.tpub.com/content/construction/14043/css/14043_106.htm

23 24 Hawser Laid Line Shroud Laid

• Hawser laid line generally consists of three • Ordinarily, a shroud-hid line is composed of four strands twisted together, usually in a strands twisted together in a right- right-hand direction. hand direction around a center strand or core. • This core is usually of the same material but • Most of the lines used at TBI are Hawser smaller in diameter than the four strands. laid • Shroud-laid line is more pliable and stronger than hawser-laid line. • Shroud-laid line has a strong tendency to kink.

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Cable Laid Line Braided Line

• Consists of three hawser laid lines twisted • Inner core: prevents together stretch and provides strength • Outer braid: prevents damage from abrasion, http://redpointropes.com/rope.html UV, chemicals • Made from synthetic materials like nylon, polyester and spectra

http://www.urbanhart.com/shopsite/rope_polyesterind.html

27 28 Types of Braided line Braided vs Laid

• Hollow Braid: has no core, is very flexible • Compared to braided line, laid line but can flatten during use. It is only found is generally: in small sized rope. – Not as strong • Parallel Core: has a braided sheath over a – Stretches more (better for mooring core of straight or lightly twisted yarns – it lines or anchor lines) is very strong. – Easier to splice • Braid on Braid: has a braided core inside a braided sheath - will stretch less and has – Less expensive less flexibility than a hollow braid. – More traditional look

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Rope Strength Comparison of Rope materials

Nylon Polypropylene Manila Sisal

Breaking Breaking Breaking Breaking Manila Nylon Dacron Polyprop Diameter Working strength Working strength Working strength Working strength inches load lbs lbs load lbs lbs load lbs lbs load lbs lbs Relative Strength 1 4 3 2 1/4" 124 1,485 113 1,130 54 540 48 480 Relative weight 3 2 4 1 5/16" 192 2,250 171 1,710 90 900 80 800 Elongation 1 4 2 3 3/8" 278 3,330 244 2,440 122 1,220 108 1,080 Relative resistance to impact or shock 1 4 2 3 1/2" 525 5,760 420 3,780 264 2,380 236 2,120 Mildew and Rot resistance Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent 5/8" 935 9,360 700 5,600 496 3,960 440 3,520 Acid resistance Poor Fair Fair Excellent 3/4" 1,420 12,750 1,090 7,650 695 4,860 617 4,320 Alkali resistance Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent 1" 2,520 22,500 1,800 12,600 1,160 8,100 Sunlight resistance Fair Fair Good Fair 1.1/2" 5,320 47,700 3,820 26,800 2,380 16,700 Organic solvent resistance Good Good Good Fair 2" 9,200 82,800 6,700 46,800 4,000 28,000 Feeney Wire rope and Melting Point (Degrees F) 380 410 410 300 Floatability Only new None None Yes For comparison a 5/16 wire rope (6x19) has a 10540 lb breaking strength Relative Abrasion Resistance 2 3 4 1 th If unsure, figure the working load is 1/10 of the breaking strength 1=lowest, 4=highest Piloting, Seamanship and Small boat handling

31 32 Knots and Splices and Strength of Roblon (Spunflex) Rope • 3 laid line • Knot is the weakest % Efficiency Normal Rope 100% part of a line • Made of fibrillated polypropylene film yarns Anchor or Fisherman’s bend 76 • Knots with sharp Timber hitch 70-65 • UV stabilized and resistant to acids, alkalis curves like an Round turn 70-65 and sunlight overhand knot are the Two half-hitches 70-65 Bowline 60 • Colour of hemp, so it has that traditional weakest knots Clove hitch 60 look • Knots with broad Sheet bend 55 curves are generally Reef knot 45 • Used on many traditionally rigged ships Eye Splice 95-90 stronger and STVs Long Splice 87 Short Spice 85

Piloting, Seamanship and Small boat handling

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Splices Long Splice

• You should already know how to do the • Used to join together following: two lines – Eye splice • Repair a broken or – Back splice damaged line –Short spice • The diameter of the line does not increase, unlike with a short splice

The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001

35 36 Long Splice Wire Rope

• Consists of wires twisted into strands which are twisted into rope • May contain a core made of fibre or wire rope http://www.industrialrope.com/class.html

Piloting, Seamanship and Small boat handling: Chapman 1972 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/55-17/ch6.htm

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Types of Wire Rope

• Classified by the Lay • Wire rope – Regular: strands laid in the opposite direction of the rope, better resistance to crushing, less rotation when ends are not fixed with more small wires is – Lang: strands laid in the same direction as the rope, more more flexible, flexible, better resistance to fatigue and wear but is less resistant to • Both Lang and regular lay have the same breaking abrasion and strength • Classified by the number of strands (eg 6) and wires (eg corrosion 19) in each strand 6x19,

http://www.industrialrope.com/class.html

39 40 Splices and Swages Serving

• Advantage of splices is that • Protects wire rope and line from wear and they can easily be inspected chafe for wear and corrosion • Protects wire rope from corrosion • Swages are the commercial alternative to splices • If you want a splice you have to do it yourself

Piloting, Seamanship and Small boat handling: Chapman 1972

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Worming and Parceling Sail Theory – How a sail works

• “Worm and parcel with the lay, turn and serve • Downwind: the other way” • Worming is done with linseed oil soaked marlin -sail merely traps • The worming material is placed between the the wind strands of the wire rope -boat is being • Parceling was traditionally done using sailcloth. pushed forward Now it is often done with cloth tape (hockey tape) • Worming and parceling provides an even surface for serving

43 44 Sail Theory – How a sail works TBI Pathfinder Playfair • Upwind: Bernoulli’s Principle Main Topgun Topgun -Windward side = high pressure -Leeward side = low pressure Main ’l Topgun Topgun • Sail is sucked towards the low Topgun Topgun pressure, pulling the boat Topgun Oceanus forward Fast Tops’l Topgun Oceanus

Low Jibtop Topgun Topgun Fisherman Dacron Dacron Slow High Gaff Tops’l Destiny Destiny

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Topgun Oceanus

• Topgun is a Polyester based cloth, originally • Polyester based cloth intended for use as a tarpaulin/sailcover. • Designed for use as a sailcloth. • Andy has found it works quite well for what we need. • Andy is not a big fan, but feels it works • Cheaper than the sailcloths actually designed to alright for squares replicate older materials. • More expensive than Topgun. • Although not designed as a sailcloth it possess many of the qualities that TBI requires such as strength and UV resistance.

47 48 Dacron Destiny

• Dacron is also polyester based • Destiny is a Duradon derivative (another • Andy does not use it for making many of polyester) our sails anymore • Andy felt would give flatter setting, and it • Commonly used in more modern rigs has

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Characteristics to look for in Sail Cloth Comparison Sailcloth

Sail Cloth Shape Strength to Aesthetic Durability Ease of Retention Weight Appeal Handling • Strength (colour, feel, smell) • Amount of stretch Cotton Poor Low Excellent Good Good (poor when wet) • Resistance to UV damage Flax Poor Low Excellent Good Good • Feel of the fabric Duradon Fair Med-Low Excellent Excellent Excellent •Cost Soft Dacron Good Med Good Good Good/Excell ent • Easy to work with Firm Excellent Med-High Poor Fair Poor Dacron Cruising Excellent High Poor Fair Fair Laminates Racing Excellent Very High Poor Poor Fair Laminates

51 52 Sail Damage Sail Repair

• Torn sails: • Short straight tears can often be repaired – Straight tear: sail caught on rigging by stitching up the hole (or using Sail tape if you are on a Yachty boat) – L- tear: sail caught on rigging – Jagged tear: excessive stress • Longer tears, jagged tears and L-shaped tears can be stitched but often require a • Worn sails patch over the area to reinforce the sail – UV damage: becomes brittle • Worn places in a sail can sometimes be – Sail becomes thin from chafing repaired with a patch, but if it is extensive then the sail may have to be replaced

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Stitches Round Stitch

• Round Stitch: sewing seams • Used for sewing • Herringbone Stitch: repairing tears seams and patches

The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001

55 56 Herringbone Sailmaker’s Herringbone

• Stitch is started • Very similar to the before the rip basic herringbone, but • Stitches are not with an extra all at the same locking stitch distance from • Stronger and fills the tear the hole better than regular herringbone

The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001 The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001

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Sewing Patches

The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001 The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001

59 60 The Sailmaker’s Apprentice: Marino 2001

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