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shortenings

Whena ropeistoolong,shorteningsareusedtoavoidcutting

theropeandlosinga lotofitsvalue;asnoknotunitingtwo

ropes can have the same strengthas an unbroken cord.

Shorteningsalsoeliminateanywornordamagedsectionsof

rope;such weakenedportionsdonottakeanystrainwhen

theyareincorporatedintothiskindofknot.

Shorteningscanbeusedinmanydifferentcircumstances,

e.g.,forhaulingboats,loadinggoods,puttinga ropeunder

strain,salvagingdamagedrope,andtowingvehicles.Theyare

alsoused,assuggestedbytheirname,forvaryingthelength

ofa ropetosuitimmediaterequirements.Themainshorten-

ingsare: the sheepshank, whichisthe most importantin

sailing;theloopknot,usedbytruckdrivers,andtheknotted

sheepshank.

Theillustrationonthefollowingpageshows:
1.Loopknot 2.Sheepshank 3.Knottedsheepshank

1m