jwa

Rob,

I have been working on this one for awhile.  It is still a work in process almost to the point to set the masts and rig her.  I agree the lines are beautiful on these vessels.  This is the Dove at 1/2" = 1'  The photos are not of the best quality.

Jerry

Thanks Pat and Chuck.  My experiments with rope making result in good looking rope, but they do want to unravel somewhat.  I'll try more tension to see if that solves that issue.  

This is still a confusing subject for me - which type of rope is used in various circumstances.  I had thought that left-handed 'S' rope was used for most applications.  Right-handed 'Z' rope is used for the heavier anchor cables and stays.  But in reading through the topics, there seems to be confusion in identifying and labeling the the two types - but, then again, I am easily confused!.  I believe Chuck's material is an example of left-handed 'S' rope which would be used for all running rigging and some of the smaller sized standing rigging.  Is this correct?

Also,  if I am reading Chuck's description correctly, in making larger cables from previously made rope, if you want a right-hand 'Z' cable, you twist three left-hand 'S' ropes.  Does this mean you go through the process of putting the initial twist - for tension - on the individual strands and then twist them to lay up a left-hand rope.  Once you have made three left-hand ropes, you then twist these to achieve the right-hand cable.  Do you have to tension the laid-up left-hand rope in the opposite direction before you twist them into the right-hand cable?  It makes sense since you have to equalize the tension for the cable to be stable.  But then this completely undoes what you previously made and does not appear that it would have any affect on the original individual strands - you would end up with a kinked up mess.  Or do you simply take the left-hand rope and, without any additional tension applied, twist them in the appropriate direction to achieve the right-hand cable?  

It is probably very obvious and I am reading too much into it.  

Thanks,
Jerry

There is a building log on the French forum of Gerard Delacroix using this type of construction.  It does require various skills!

http://5500.forumactif.org/t1692-louise-tentative-de-reconstitution-d-un-clipper-d-argenteuil

Jerry