Seizing on a gammon iron

[ianc1200]

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In the attached photo, there is seizing around the strop (I assume the bit around the block is a "bridle"?) but how is is held to the rope? It has been varnished later, but how would it been attached originally?

I want to put seizing around my gammon iron to replace the existing, but wondering whether to bed in a small amount of mastic.

 

[Woodlouse]

Have you considered leathering it instead? Quite easy to do and will be kinder to the spar than a seizing.

If you do go down the rope work route then the ends will be secured in exactly the same way as a serving with the ends tucked under the turns. Tricky to explain in words but basically the starting end is under the first few inches of turns which are tight around it. To finish you need to secure the tight turns and then do dozen or so loose turns that you can then feed the tail end inside of and back out, then work the slack out of the loose turns by hand, you should then have a slack loop at the end with the tail end poking out several turns down. Pull the slack out and cut the tail as close as possible, it should be hard to see if done right. You can then coat with varnish or riggering black if you want to be really traditional (a mix of varnish, linseed oil and Stockholm tar it takes some experimenting to find a ratio that sets relatively quickly).

Anyway, personally I'd use leather. Two pieces, one each side with a simple cross stitch on both seams.

 

[prr]

The ropework you are talking about is called a 'Serving' it is usually applied with a serving mallet. See link below The strop in the photo is called a grommet. It maybe once had a thimble seized into it. One easy way to serve your gammon iron is to apply continous half hitches around it a piece with a soft nylon rope.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/squarerigger/sets/72157594528393721/

 

[ianc1200]

I'm really grateful for that series of photo's, been looking through all my books & haven't found anything which shows it so clearly. Thanks Woodlouse for the description as well - I'd rather have a serving in this case although have admired other leatherwork on their gammon irons.

 

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

The block has a strop around both it and the small circular thimble (and the strop should be a grommet formed from one piece of line, as PRR says), with a seizing then placed between the block and thimble to tighten the strop on the block.

As far as the service itself is concerned, there is a rule that says, "worm and parcel with the lay; turn and serve the other way". The worming is the yarn laid in the small channels (cuntlines) between the strands to help provide a smooth surface for the parcelling. It appears that Jamie omits this step in the photos and proceeds straight to the parcelling, which is done with friction tape. Both worming (when used) and parcelling are applied with the lay. Then the serving itself is applied in the other direction -- opposite the lay, also as shown in the pictures.

There's a good photo of all stages here.

I appreciate this doesn't add a lot to the earlier posts, but perhaps it helps clarify them a bit.

Mike

 

[Woodlouse]

I'm really grateful for that series of photo's, been looking through all my books & haven't found anything which shows it so clearly. Thanks Woodlouse for the description as well - I'd rather have a serving in this case although have admired other leatherwork on their gammon irons.

I'm trying to remember which books have a decent description and illustrations. Without having any of my books to hand I'd suggest checking Hiscock's 'cruising under sail' and Charles Spencer's 'knots, splicing and fancywork'. The latter is one of the best and useful books on the topic I've come across. It doesn't try to cover everything, but what it does cover is useful and well explained with clear illustrations.

 

[ianc1200]

Thanks again, ordered the Charles Spencer.

 

[NUTMEG]

Hi Ian. Just came across this thread. There is a series of photos on my website showing the leathering process. In case you want a peek.

Steve

 

[ianc1200]

Hi Steve

For various reasons I want to have a serving on this rather than leather. Got the knots/splicing/fancywork book but yet to try it. Wise heads in the yard asking me whether I've got a serving mallet.

Still thinking of coming for the Swallows & Amazons weekend?

regards

IanC

 

[Woodlouse]

Hi Steve

For various reasons I want to have a serving on this rather than leather. Got the knots/splicing/fancywork book but yet to try it. Wise heads in the yard asking me whether I've got a serving mallet.

Still thinking of coming for the Swallows & Amazons weekend?

regards

IanC

You won't get much use out of a serving mallet on a gammon iron so the best use for one in this instance is for chucking at those who think they know better. Best thing is pull each turn as tight as you can by hand, wrapping the line around a Marlin spike a few times can help.

 

[3dtech]

thanks for this information.

 

[NUTMEG]

Hi Steve

For various reasons I want to have a serving on this rather than leather. Got the knots/splicing/fancywork book but yet to try it. Wise heads in the yard asking me whether I've got a serving mallet.

Still thinking of coming for the Swallows & Amazons weekend?

regards

IanC

Rats. I meant to have sorted this out before now. Need to bribe,trick,cajole the boss into driving up to Walton.

Considered sails there and towing the Luger but have doubts. Towing a heavy dinghy up the Wallet might not be a good idea!

 

[ianc1200]

Plenty of time to get involved/booking in. Agree re towing particularly in following seas, had a couple of scary moments towing the smacks boat across from Harwich to Stone Point, so all the way from Maldon might be pushing it.