Ratlines

[Barbara]

What is the preferred knot to attach ratlines?

thanks , Barb

[Knocklouder]

Glove hitch gets my vote. 

Bob M.

[Chuck Seiler]

Eyesplice or cow hitch on the ends.  Clove hitch on all others.

[PvG Aussie]

Barbara, I agree with the clove hitch knot. There are plenty of sites on the web that show you how it is done.

Cheers,

[amateur]

Depends on the scale: real world is clive hitch, and spliced eyes on the last shroud, At large scales this can be done, but at smaller scales a half hitch, or even no hith at all (ratline through the shrould using a needle) can be visually better. (Because clove hitches can be rather bulky as at smaller scales ratlines are almost always over scale)
 

Jan

[Gregory]

On 8/2/2024 at 2:32 AM, amateur said:

at smaller scales ratlines are almost always over scale

Good point.

This can be distracting on an otherwise excellent model when the knots scale to something about tennis ball size or bigger.

Ratlines on Victory.   

Lees says ratlines are 1.75" circumference.  About .5" diameter.

This scales to .01" at 1:48.  At 1:64 its close to .008"

The smallest rope at Ropes of Scale is .009, so this would be a good match at 1:48.  Syren has .008 and .012.   At smaller scales you are looking at single strand thread to get a reasonable scale match.

 

On 8/2/2024 at 2:32 AM, amateur said:

....at smaller scales a half hitch, or even no hitch at all (ratline through the shroud using a needle) can be visually better.

This is a good option.  One might also consider just glueing the ratline to the shroud.  A little blob of glue will look like a knot.

[GrandpaPhil]

I typically use an overhand knot.

[GGibson]

Working on my Bluenose ratlines now.  Using a clove hitch knot at a 1:64 scale using 0.009" rope.  You get into a pretty steady groove with a set of tweezers in hand to assist in grabbing.

[dafi]

If the knots are getting too big, that it a good sign that the yarn for the ratline is oversized!

 

Circumference 1,5 Inch on the lower masts on big ships, otherwise just 1 inch. Just calculate the diameter for your scale 🙂

 

And with some training, the clove hitch goes as fast as an overhand knot but looks far better in an even appearence.

XXXDAn

Edited August 12 by dafi

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  There are builds where the ratlines are sewn (just passed with a fine needle) through the shrouds.  I've seen the ends treated with a tiny bit of CA, then clipped ... but that still leaves a little 'whisker' poking beyond - and the same thing happens if a clove hitch is used on the end.  Sine those stubbly bits are not really attractive, the solution is to use a "cow hitch" - which points the very end inward, and back to the direction of the ratline just secured.  That way, when the very end is trimmed, the stubble points inward on the back side (if the hitch is tied correctly), so it 'disappears' from view.