"KLC Lewis" wrote
If I recall correctly, Hervey Garret Smith recommends splicing an
eye in both ends of the ratline, then lashing it to the shrouds with
tarred marline.

This is the way they were done on the Schooner Westward when I first
sailed on her in 1973. I had a couple break under me the first time I
went up really driving home the old "Hands on the shrouds, feet on the
ratlines" adage. It seemed kind of silly on a school ship so I set
about making it right.

I went up the ratlines (no safety harness, this was a simpler time)
renewing the seizings as I went with a ball of marlin in one hand and
my buck knife (no safety lanyard, this was a simpler time) in the
other. It was great spending hours above the sea as the ship bowled
along over the October North Atlantic, flying fish jumped, and life
went on down below. I worked my way up one mast, went back to the
deck and worked up the other. When we tacked, I did the other side.

I would note that these shrouds were wormed, parceled, and served, in
the best traditional fashion so there was not worry about the seizings
sliding down. I'm a bit skeptical about ratlines not slipping on bare
stainless but using them occasionally and carefully on a cruising
sloop is probably different than enthusiastic students running up and
down them continuously.

--

Roger Long