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Jim Willemin

Gordon wrote in news:r6mdnV670K8tM-
:

Thinking of putting ratlines on my lower shrouds. Whats a good wood?
Thinking maybe Doug fir.
The first step will be a sheer pole. Up 16 inches will be a
prestretched dacron rope rung. Another rope rung 16 inches up from that.
Then a wood step, the 2 more ropes etc.
Any thoughts?
Gordon

Well, the old-timers used rope only.. possibly because I imagine you could
really crack a shin or noggin going from a rope rung to a wooden one if
there is any sea running. Apart from the spreader effect of keeping the
shrouds apart as your weight tends to pull them together, why use wood at
all?

Come to think of it, are you sure your mast and other rigging can take the
extra tension? I'm thinking if you climb the windward rigging your body
weight when you get halfway up will *really* increase the tension in the
shrouds (by a lot more than your body weight - it's been too long since I
took physics to calculate exactly, but it can be surprising).