"Christopher Horner" wrote in message

If the first pic on this ( http://www.tallshipbounty.org/belay.html ) page
is what you are talking about then, you're thinking of belaying pins


Thankee, thankee. Those 'r the guys.

(BTW, did they have a standard dimension, or come in all sizes?)

--

Reply to sans two @@, or your reply won't reach me.

"An election is nothing more than an advance auction of stolen goods."
-- Ambrose Bierce

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 10:23:41 GMT, Vince Brannigan
is illeged to have opined:



Brian Sharrock wrote:
"Mike1" wrote in message
...

In old "pirate" movies, you'll sometimes see, during a fight, a man pull
out a special-shaped wooden pin or club and use it as a weapon.
Sometimes he has one or more on him, but often he yanks it from a
mounting bracket on the rail of the ship (where there appear to be many
of things, for, I presume, tying down lines to tack the sails).

Question: Do these pins have a specific name?


Answer: Yes! -couldn't resist the temptation to

Question: what is the specific name for the items discussed?

Answer: Belaying pins. Ropes, line, halyards, sheets etc, etc,
are belayed onto the appropriate pin so that the rope-work
looks tiddly and Bristol fashion and that the crew can
fumble
in the dark and select the correct piece of string. Note
that
the rope-work is _not_ tied-off in a knot or bend which may
jam
but they are wound around the head of the pin and the tail
of the pin - belayed - then the remaining length is coiled
and
handed onto to head of the pin.

Hope that helps

--

Brian

almost there

Belaying pins actually function as a machine. The pin protudes through
the pin rail. snippage
Vince


For the TRULY detail driven, the pin's rail was known as a Fife Rail.
The belaying pin's holes in the wooden rail caused the wood to
resemble a fife.

HP sends

Vince Brannigan wrote:

Brian Sharrock wrote:
"Mike1" wrote in message
...

In old "pirate" movies, you'll sometimes see, during a fight, a man pull
out a special-shaped wooden pin or club and use it as a weapon.
Sometimes he has one or more on him, but often he yanks it from a
mounting bracket on the rail of the ship (where there appear to be many
of things, for, I presume, tying down lines to tack the sails).

Question: Do these pins have a specific name?


Answer: Yes! -couldn't resist the temptation to

Question: what is the specific name for the items discussed?

Answer: Belaying pins. Ropes, line, halyards, sheets etc, etc,
are belayed onto the appropriate pin so that the rope-work
looks tiddly and Bristol fashion and that the crew can
fumble
in the dark and select the correct piece of string. Note
that
the rope-work is _not_ tied-off in a knot or bend which may
jam
but they are wound around the head of the pin and the tail
of the pin - belayed - then the remaining length is coiled
and
handed onto to head of the pin.

Hope that helps

--

Brian

almost there

Belaying pins actually function as a machine. The pin protudes through
the pin rail. the "rope" comes down vertically past the pinrail and a
"turn" is takn around the tail of the pin. This changes the angle of
pull 90 degrees and allows more people to pull on the rope than if it
just came down vertically. The rope can also be attached to a
windlass. Friction between the rope and the pin rail adds to the work
load, but in a trained crew is also used to grab the rope while you
change hands or tie off the rope. the rope is tied off by taking a
"hitch" in the rope in which the standing part is crossed over itself
and dropped over the top of the pin. Pulling on the rope tightens down
the "belay knot" (yes its a knot) on the head of the pin

if the load is very heavy and you need more friction you can take a
second belay by taking a second turn aroun the tail and making a
"double belay".

Vince

Actually, I learned how to do that in my high school theater, which
had a fully functional pin rail for all the crap the scenery folks wanted
hung in the air over the actors heads. We did have much more, ummm,
colorful names for them though.

--Dale

In article ,
Dale Farmer wrote:



Actually, I learned how to do that in my high school theater, which
had a fully functional pin rail for all the crap the scenery folks wanted
hung in the air over the actors heads. We did have much more, ummm,
colorful names for them though.

I now realize that I should thank my lucky stars that I have only tread the
boards under counterweighted fly pipes.

You obviously havrn't sailed on my boat.

Richard Bell wrote:

In article ,
Dale Farmer wrote:



Actually, I learned how to do that in my high school theater, which
had a fully functional pin rail for all the crap the scenery folks wanted
hung in the air over the actors heads. We did have much more, ummm,
colorful names for them though.

I now realize that I should thank my lucky stars that I have only tread the
boards under counterweighted fly pipes.

You are no safer because of a counterweighted system than a hemp
house. I think that you would actually be safer in a hemp house, as there,
ALL the folks doing rigging know how to tie the correct knots correctly,
and are generally more careful in their actions. Barring a visit from
Davie Dimmers of course, then all bets are off.

--Dale

(( Davie Dimmers is a ( hopefully ) mythical character who is forever doing
really clever, stupid and dangerous things in technical theatre. I believe he
is an invention of Clive Mitchell . ))

Am Sun, 26 Oct 2003 06:59:39 -0400, schrieb "Arved Sandstrom"
:

All you guys know a little bit too much, which is disgusting me. I will soon
expound on either the exact details of how early 19th century cannons were
secured (complete with the nomenclature of the ropes), or ruminate on
careening, or perhaps speculate at length on the design of galley oar
blades.


But this is not ancient, useless knowledge, if you ever go sailing on
an old sailing boat.

:-)
Owe
--
My from-adress is valid and being read.
www.owejessen.de

Also, I believe the reason that the pin fit into a hole and was thereby
removable was to permit rapid unbelaying if necessary.

--

Njord

"Lord, your sea is so big, and my boat is so small"

Anonymous

"Vince Brannigan" wrote in message
...


Brian Sharrock wrote:
"Mike1" wrote in message
...

In old "pirate" movies, you'll sometimes see, during a fight, a man pull
out a special-shaped wooden pin or club and use it as a weapon.
Sometimes he has one or more on him, but often he yanks it from a
mounting bracket on the rail of the ship (where there appear to be many
of things, for, I presume, tying down lines to tack the sails).

Question: Do these pins have a specific name?


Answer: Yes! -couldn't resist the temptation to

Question: what is the specific name for the items discussed?

Answer: Belaying pins. Ropes, line, halyards, sheets etc, etc,
are belayed onto the appropriate pin so that the
rope-work
looks tiddly and Bristol fashion and that the crew can
fumble
in the dark and select the correct piece of string. Note
that
the rope-work is _not_ tied-off in a knot or bend which
may
jam
but they are wound around the head of the pin and the
tail
of the pin - belayed - then the remaining length is
coiled
and
handed onto to head of the pin.

Hope that helps

--

Brian

almost there

Belaying pins actually function as a machine. The pin protudes through
the pin rail. the "rope" comes down vertically past the pinrail and a
"turn" is takn around the tail of the pin. This changes the angle of
pull 90 degrees and allows more people to pull on the rope than if it
just came down vertically. The rope can also be attached to a
windlass. Friction between the rope and the pin rail adds to the work
load, but in a trained crew is also used to grab the rope while you
change hands or tie off the rope. the rope is tied off by taking a
"hitch" in the rope in which the standing part is crossed over itself
and dropped over the top of the pin. Pulling on the rope tightens down
the "belay knot" (yes its a knot) on the head of the pin

if the load is very heavy and you need more friction you can take a
second belay by taking a second turn aroun the tail and making a
"double belay".


Vince

are you sure the belaying pin is used for tightening
the rope?
I regularly sail a brigantine and a tradional sloop which both use
hooks on the deck.
the normal way I thought the ropes were tightened was by one person
pulling (out and downwards) above the hood and another person as the
'tail' who holds the rope coming up from the hook tight.
the belaying pin is only used to make fast the rope when it is tight
enough.
I belive the belaying pin would not have enough strength to be used
for this unless it was one of those new metal ones.

Vince Brannigan wrote in message ...
Brian Sharrock wrote:
"Mike1" wrote in message
...

In old "pirate" movies, you'll sometimes see, during a fight, a man pull
out a special-shaped wooden pin or club and use it as a weapon.
Sometimes he has one or more on him, but often he yanks it from a
mounting bracket on the rail of the ship (where there appear to be many
of things, for, I presume, tying down lines to tack the sails).

Question: Do these pins have a specific name?


Answer: Yes! -couldn't resist the temptation to

Question: what is the specific name for the items discussed?

Answer: Belaying pins. Ropes, line, halyards, sheets etc, etc,
are belayed onto the appropriate pin so that the rope-work
looks tiddly and Bristol fashion and that the crew can
fumble
in the dark and select the correct piece of string. Note
that
the rope-work is _not_ tied-off in a knot or bend which may
jam
but they are wound around the head of the pin and the tail
of the pin - belayed - then the remaining length is coiled
and
handed onto to head of the pin.

Hope that helps

--

Brian

almost there

Belaying pins actually function as a machine. The pin protudes through
the pin rail. the "rope" comes down vertically past the pinrail and a
"turn" is takn around the tail of the pin. This changes the angle of
pull 90 degrees and allows more people to pull on the rope than if it
just came down vertically. The rope can also be attached to a
windlass. Friction between the rope and the pin rail adds to the work
load, but in a trained crew is also used to grab the rope while you
change hands or tie off the rope. the rope is tied off by taking a
"hitch" in the rope in which the standing part is crossed over itself
and dropped over the top of the pin. Pulling on the rope tightens down
the "belay knot" (yes its a knot) on the head of the pin

if the load is very heavy and you need more friction you can take a
second belay by taking a second turn aroun the tail and making a
"double belay".


Vince

carl wrote:
are you sure the belaying pin is used for tightening
the rope?
I regularly sail a brigantine and a tradional sloop which both use
hooks on the deck.
the normal way I thought the ropes were tightened was by one person
pulling (out and downwards) above the hood and another person as the
'tail' who holds the rope coming up from the hook tight.
the belaying pin is only used to make fast the rope when it is tight
enough.
I belive the belaying pin would not have enough strength to be used
for this unless it was one of those new metal ones.

such hooks were not known on traditional sailing ships, unless you are
referring to a block attached to a deck cleat. the bealy gives you
friction to allow you to tie off the rope

Vince