Grommet Strop
(Fig 44)
Made by unlaying a piece of rope of the
desired size about a foot more than three times the length required for
the strop. Place the center of the rope round the block and thimble;
mark with chalk where the parts cross; take one strand out of the rope;
bring the two chalk marks together; and cross the strand in the lay on
both sides, continuing round and round till the two ends meet the third
time; they are then halved, and the upper halves half-knotte
d and passed
over and under the next strands, exactly as one part of a long splice. A
piece of worn or well stretched rope will better retain its shape, upon
which success entirely depends. The object is neatness, and if three or
multiples of three strops are to be made it is economical.
Double Strop
(Fig 45)
Made with one piece of rope, the splice being
brought as usual to the crown of the block t, the bights fitting into
scores some inches apart, converging to the upper part, above which the
thimble receives the bights a, and the four parts of the strop are
secured at s, s by a round seizing doubly crossed. If the block be
not
then on the right slew (the shell horizontal or vertical) a union
thimble is used with another strop, which produces the desired effect;
thus the fore and main brace blocks, being very large and thin, are
required (for appearance) to lie horizontally; a single strop round the
yard vertically has a union thimble between it and the double strop
round the block. The double strop is used for large blocks; it gives
more support to the shell than the single strop and admits of smaller
rope being used. Wire rope is much used for block strops; the fitting
is similar. Metal blocks are also used in fixed positions; durability is
their chief recommendation. Great care should be taken that they do not
chafe the ropes which pass by them as well as those which reeve through.