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