Capt.

I am trying to avoid twisting in the fall for a chandelier. I work as a capt. taking guests to a private island with an old English Manor style house. Occasionally, I am asked to lower a chandelier and insert new candles. The Chandelier is lowered with a 4 part side by side tackle, using 3 strand manila: top block is single with becket. Bottom block is a double. At the top, the line exits the single block along the ceiling and down to a cleat..

As I lower and raise the chandelier, the line turns in the tackle, inducing a lot of twist in the 4 part fall, creating lots of friction. This effect must have some history in schoonering and cargoing. Can I re-rig the fall with a cross-over style to relieve the problem? Any ideas that might work? The owner is not ready for braided line, by the way.

Incidentally, Brian, I have studied two phenomena that afflict modern systems; No. 1 is the phone cord twist: most people pick up right handed, Yak, Yak, Yak, and hang up left handed. The twist is predictable.

No. 2 is the induced twist inside the boom of outhaul systems and topping lifts with modern braided line; people coil the line as if it were 3 strand and create an invisible twisted "fall" inside the boom

We met at a show one time and I was envious that you made a career out of rigging. I am just a dabbler but I enjoy everything you write and I am glad I found you on the web. FRED ENDEMANN Cutchogue, LI, NY

[Fred Endemann]

This Fred again, I just realized that the top block is a double with becket, I mistakenly called it a single. I did see an old posting about a schooner whose peak blocks twisted: Brian said get rid of the swivel.

My problem is that chandeliers love to swivel, even though the top blocks are fixed. Any ideas? Reave (sp?) it with a crossover? Need help! Fred.

[Brian Duff]

Fred,
I would suggest that you try the Code Zero Torque Line that Yale makes, the stuff doesn't twist but is pretty flexible. I think it should be able to do what you need and work well. Look at this link to Yale, page 12 on the Adobe file, page 10 of the catalog

http://www.yalecordage.com/html/pdf/YaleCatalog-pleasure.pdf

I might try that line, but perhaps someone else here has a suggestion ?

Brian

[Bob Pingel]

Have you used the Yale Torque line? I played with some at a boat show and the stuff was really, really stiff. Not as stiff as say 1x19SS, but way more so than any rope. I doubt it run through tackle.

Maybe it was pre-production or I am thinking of something else?

Bob

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Any number of braided lines would eliminate the problem, assuming that coiling isn't putting twists in. But if your client really wants the appearance of 3-strand ó and I must say that it would look olde-time suitable here ó then there are some tricks.
Boatfall reeving should help, of course (see the "Apprentice"), but the biggest difference will be in the quality of the rope; you want something that is well-balanced, and this is rather hard to come by. Buff Polyester is pretty good, so I'd give it a try. And then I'd subject it to the procedure shown as #129 (pg. 29) of the "Ashley Book of Knots". You might also try running a bungee cord, set up as shown in our "Basic Braided Splicing" handbook, down the length of the rope, to work the constructional twists out. Finally, if you are still getting some spirals, two-block the load, and then lower it slowly, twisting the line a bit at a time, in whichever direction tends to stop the purchase from spiralling.
Remember, people have dealt with very similar situations for, oh, several thousand years, so we know it can be managed.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[Fred Endemann]

Thanks, Brion. I did not read your entire reply about looking at Ashleys and the Apprentice for boatfalll reaving. I obviously need to do some research. You mentioned that this problem has been going on for centuries, but all I can think of is loading cargo from a spar/gaff. : the load could easily spin and create the frictiion that I am talking about. Still have not had the time to "simulate" the problem in my cellar laboratory with my collection of old lines, blocks, and cleats.
Thanks for hosting a great website. FRED E.