Understanding the purpose of serving rope

[WalrusGuy]

Dug myself a bit of a rabbit hole looking at Chuck's store page after finding his serving rope machine. Tried doing some research into serving line but I could not understand much of the nautical terminology. Being very new to this hobby, why serve rope? Is it just to have a different colored thread? 

[druxey]

No, the purpose is to prevent wear on the line and shield it from the elements. Under the serving  in a real ship the grooves of the rope are filled with smaller line ('worming', then wrapped in tarred canvas strip ('parcelling') and finally wound tightly with very light line that is subsequently tarred ('serving'). For model work the first two steps, invisible after serving, are usually omitted.

[WalrusGuy]

Thanks for the reply Druxey! So is the standing rigging only served? Are they served throughout the entire rope? 

[Jim Rogers]

Only the parts that would get chafed, basically if a sail would rub against it, it was served.

 

[WalrusGuy]

Ohh I understand now, thanks! 

 

One more question, do all sailing ships have served ropes, or is it specific for different eras? 

[Jim Rogers]

If you go to the Domanoff website in sponsors row they have diagrams of serving rope and mouses used to hold loops on served rope.

[WalrusGuy]

Thanks Jim! I'm going to bookmark the site. 

[allanyed]

WGuy

In addition to those ropes that were subjuect to chafing by the sails, there are several other items that were served. As Druxey explained, it helped prevent wear regardless of where that comes from.  A couple examples:  the tops of the shrouds where they go 'round the mast head are served for about 8 feet  below the bight around the mast itself and most, if not all, collars were served as well.  

Allan