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Ratlines (rat linz)
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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"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. |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
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Ratlines (rat linz)
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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"Tom Dacon" wrote in message ... "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 |
Ratlines (rat linz)
On Jan 25, 11:01*am, "KLC Lewis" wrote:
Doug Fir is prone to rot and termites. Humm, I guess the dragger my step dad fished for decades was an anomaly. It was planked in Doug Fir as was every other NW work boat.... By the way, that boat was built in 1912 in Coos Bay, OR Last I heard it was crabing somplace in Northern CA. Doug Fir is great for planking So is Monterey Cyprus although a bit light for commercial boats.. I have a scraggly old one growing in my from yard. Prone to rot??? hog wash...................... I guess they just dont grow trees they way they use to. Bob |
Ratlines (rat linz)
On Jan 25, 10:23 am, Gordon wrote:
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 worm and parcel with the lay, turn and serve the other way. works with rat lines. putting a bunch of fire wood in the rigging just seems a waste. |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"Bob" wrote in message ... On Jan 25, 11:01 am, "KLC Lewis" wrote: Doug Fir is prone to rot and termites. Humm, I guess the dragger my step dad fished for decades was an anomaly. It was planked in Doug Fir as was every other NW work boat.... By the way, that boat was built in 1912 in Coos Bay, OR Last I heard it was crabing somplace in Northern CA. Doug Fir is great for planking So is Monterey Cyprus although a bit light for commercial boats.. I have a scraggly old one growing in my from yard. Prone to rot??? hog wash...................... I guess they just dont grow trees they way they use to. Bob In all the tables I've ever seen, Doug Fir is rated low to moderate in rot resistance, while teak is rated as excellent. Work boats tend to be built for utility and economy, and are expected to be maintained on a regular basis. It's relatively inexpensive to replace a doug fir plank. And doug fir does have other properties that make it desireable for some boat construction purposes. Exposed to the weather just isn't one of them. Yes, I'm aware that it is sometimes used in deck planking. Where it doesn't last nearly as long as teak. |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"Bob" wrote in message ... On Jan 25, 11:01 am, "KLC Lewis" wrote: Doug Fir is prone to rot and termites. Humm, I guess the dragger my step dad fished for decades was an anomaly. It was planked in Doug Fir as was every other NW work boat.... By the way, that boat was built in 1912 in Coos Bay, OR Last I heard it was crabing somplace in Northern CA. Doug Fir is great for planking So is Monterey Cyprus although a bit light for commercial boats.. I have a scraggly old one growing in my from yard. Prone to rot??? hog wash...................... I guess they just dont grow trees they way they use to. Bob I guess they don't, Bob. Up around my neighborhood (Port Townsend, WA) most of the boat shops won't do planking repairs with Doug Fir any more. They say they can't get good planking stock - too many pitch pockets and so forth. Tom Dacon |
Ratlines (rat linz)
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. Which brings to mind a question... Is the U.S. still boycotting Burma teak? Richard |
Ratlines (rat linz)
Alisdair Gurney wrote:
"Tom Dacon" wrote in message 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 Which give more windage. But if you follow Brion Toss' instructions (he really seem to be the authority on many rigging questions), you put the wooden lines between the shrouds, so that they do not protrude outside at all. And cover the ends with the lashing that keeps them in place. May still give a bit of chafe, but nowhere near as much as a stick left pointing out... -H |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"cavelamb" wrote in message m... 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. Which brings to mind a question... Is the U.S. still boycotting Burma teak? Even if they were because it would seem a bit pointless anyway since Burma teak has been very hard to find for some time. ..Most of the teak now comes from elsewhere-mostly Thailand |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"Edgar" wrote in message ... Even if they were because it would seem a bit pointless anyway since Burma teak has been very hard to find for some time. .Most of the teak now comes from elsewhere-mostly Thailand Also South America, where it is farmed. |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"KLC Lewis" wrote in message et... "Edgar" wrote in message ... Even if they were because it would seem a bit pointless anyway since Burma teak has been very hard to find for some time. .Most of the teak now comes from elsewhere-mostly Thailand Also South America, where it is farmed. I did not know that. It makes a good quid pro quo for the transport of S.American rubber plants now grown in Malaysia |
Ratlines (rat linz)
"Edgar" wrote in message ... "KLC Lewis" wrote in message et... "Edgar" wrote in message ... Even if they were because it would seem a bit pointless anyway since Burma teak has been very hard to find for some time. .Most of the teak now comes from elsewhere-mostly Thailand Also South America, where it is farmed. I did not know that. It makes a good quid pro quo for the transport of S.American rubber plants now grown in Malaysia It's that "Global Economy" at work, I guess. The South American trees are harvested between 20-40 years old, and I don't know how their quality compares with old-growth Asian teak, but I'd have to guess "poorly." Then again, I'm not an arborist. |
Ratlines (rat linz)
On Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:07:48 +0100, "Edgar"
wrote: "cavelamb" wrote in message om... 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. Which brings to mind a question... Is the U.S. still boycotting Burma teak? Even if they were because it would seem a bit pointless anyway since Burma teak has been very hard to find for some time. .Most of the teak now comes from elsewhere-mostly Thailand Thai teak actually comes from Burma or Cambodia as there hasn't been any appreciable amount of teak cut in Thailand for years - it was all cut down. I have a brother-in-law who was in the "timber business" some 40 years ago and at that time the "timber business" consisted of a bunch of scouts (B-in-L) running around the country looking for trees. When they found a single teak tree they attempted to negotiate a price from the owner and if the price was favorable they then sold the tree on to a mill. Cheers, Bruce |
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