Sprit Sail Sheet Knot
(Fig 33)
This knot consists of a double wall
and double crown made by the two ends, consequently with six strands,
with the ends turned down. Used formerly in the
dews of sails, now as
an excellent stopper.
Dead Eye Cutter
(Fig 34)
A bend is made in the stay or shroud round its own part and hove together
with a ear and strand; two or three seizings diminishing in size
(one round and one or two either round or flat) are hove on taut and
snug, the end being at the side of the fellow part. The dead eye is put
in and the eye driven down with b.
Dead
Eye End Up
(Fig 35)
The shroud is measured round
the dead eye and marked where a throat-seizing is hove on; the dead-eye
is then forced into its place, or it may be put in first. The end beyond
a is taken up taut and secured with a round seizing; higher still the
end is secured by another seizing. As it is important that the lay
should always be kept in the rope as much as possible, these eyes should
be formed conformably, either right-handed or left-handed. It is easily
seen which way a rope would naturally kink by putting a little extra
twist into it. A shroud whose dead eye is turned in end up will bear a
fairer strain, but is more dependent on the seizings; the under turns of
the throat are the first to break and the others the first to slip. With
the cutter-stay fashion the standing part of the shroud gives way under
the nip of the eye. A rope will afford the greatest resistance to
strain when secured round large thimbles with a straight end and a
sufficient number of flat or racking seizings.