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

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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

Doug Fir is prone to rot and termites. Granted that termites would be a
relatively insignificant problem, teak is still superior. Brian Toss gives a
good outline of ratlines in his "Rigger's Apprentice," if memory serves.

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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


Why? Lots of extra windage... Do you need to get aloft that often?

Do you have a traditional schooner or something?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

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).

In Jim Willemin writes:

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).

There must be more safety margin in the strenghs of the shrouds. This is
not a real problem, or if it is, then get new rigging.

- Lauri Tarkkonen

KLC Lewis wrote:
"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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

Doug Fir is prone to rot and termites. Granted that termites would be a
relatively insignificant problem, teak is still superior. Brian Toss gives a
good outline of ratlines in his "Rigger's Apprentice," if memory serves.



This is from Brians book but he doesn't specify any particular wood.
I spose IPE or some such would work. I do have some teak I could
laminate to make thick enough. I'm thinking 2x2 while the teak I have is
1x4.
G

Capt. JG wrote:
"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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


Why? Lots of extra windage... Do you need to get aloft that often?

Yes, easier to see coral heads.

Do you have a traditional schooner or something?

Something

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
Capt. JG wrote:
"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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


Why? Lots of extra windage... Do you need to get aloft that often?

Yes, easier to see coral heads.

Do you have a traditional schooner or something?

Something



Ok, but is it really worth the additional windage? Never had a problem
seeing them looking off the bow....

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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

Teak, left bare and unfinished, gives a good grip on your feet, particularly
as it continues to weather. It'll last practically forever without
maintenance.

Your plan of one wood, two rope and repeat is a good one, but as you get
closer to the top you might consider going with just rope (see my comment
below about chafe). I'd also put them a bit closer together, maybe 12 inches
or even better whatever the step spacing is on a common stepladder. It'd
make it a little easier to catch the next step when the boat's bouncing
around.

One problem to think about is chafe on the sails from the aft end of the
wooden ratlines, when the sails are eased well off.

Tom Dacon

"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
news
"Gordon" wrote in message
...
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

Teak, left bare and unfinished, gives a good grip on your feet,
particularly as it continues to weather. It'll last practically forever
without maintenance.

Your plan of one wood, two rope and repeat is a good one, but as you get
closer to the top you might consider going with just rope (see my comment
below about chafe). I'd also put them a bit closer together, maybe 12
inches or even better whatever the step spacing is on a common stepladder.
It'd make it a little easier to catch the next step when the boat's
bouncing around.

One problem to think about is chafe on the sails from the aft end of the
wooden ratlines, when the sails are eased well off.

Tom Dacon

Baggywrinkles

Alisdair