Anchor rope colour

[DaveBaxt]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. I can see why this would be classed as running rigging and would be tan in colour. However even though it would make a huge mess of the windlass surely this rope being in the harshest of enviroments would be tarred and therefore either dark brown or black. What are peoples views on this.. Best regards Dave

Edited December 17, 2021 by DaveBaxt

[allanyed]

Dave,

 

Interesting point.  I do not recall ever hearing of or seeing a tarred anchor line on contemporary models, but.......   

 

Remember that the anchor cable did not go around the capstans, but rather the messenger did.    

 

Allan

 

 

 

[popeye2sea]

My thinking on this is that the tarring of the standing rigging is to try and keep most of the wet out.

Since the anchor cable will be immersed when in use and completely water logged the tarring would just as effectively keep all the wet in and the cable would never dry out and eventually rot.

 

Of course....I may be totally wrong. 😉

 

Regards,

[Gregory]

30 minutes ago, popeye2sea said:

...tarring would just as effectively keep all the wet in and the cable would never dry out and eventually rot.

 

 

I would think Lees would have mentioned this.  Maybe someone else can check before I can get to my library..

 

Lavery goes into great detail about anchors and cables, but doesn't mention tarring..

 

He does say a 74 would have had 7, 22inch cables of 120 fathoms.  That would have been a lot of tar that would need to be replenished..

[Roger Pellett]

In wood, damage from rot is associated with fresh water; often from rainwater leaking from the deck into internal structure.  Salt is generally regarded as a preservative of organic materials.  Later Nineteenth Century American shipbuilding practice included pouring salt into cavities between frames planking and ceiling as a preservative.

 

I therefore,  suspect that rot would not be a particular concern for anchor cables immersed in salt water, particularly if they could be sluiced off to remove marine growth as they came inboard.  Ships were fitted with mangers to direct water and debris from the cable  as it was hauled onboard.

 

A real concern might have been damage to cables stored onboard in the dank environment.  Rats might have also been a problem.  I have read that they would eat flax sails if given a chance.

 

Roger

Edited December 17, 2021 by Roger Pellett

[DaveBaxt]

Thankyou everyone who added to this thread and lots of interesting replies and can now see why the ropes were not tarred. Great stuff. Best regards Dave

[Brewerpaul]

FWIW-- I sailed on the Pride of Baltimore II this summer as guest crew. The port anchor is on chain, the starboard is on un-tarred rope.  Both do go around the winch (not windlass).

[Gaetan Bordeleau]

This is a subject  which was rarely noted in books. I would guess, simply because it was clear in their mind that almost all the rigging was tarred with only few exceptions.

[popeye2sea]

Translation, please?

 

Regards,

[allanyed]

Can you please post in English? 

Many thanks

Allan

[Gaetan Bordeleau]

it goes about like this:

 

(I guess there are also some pendants where it is important to keep the maximum strength so it does not break.

If a tarred rope is let's say may be about 1/3 less strength than un tarred rope... does that mean that they had to slightly increase the rope diameter of ... few ropes?)