Ben,

The second picture with the classic ratline is what I'm looking for. Thanks!
I'll look in my knot book and give it a try from what you've told me. Never
done this before. In fact, I've never worked on knots before, but I love a
challenge and frequently if not always succeed. If you have anything more
specific (additional pointers), I'd love to know.

No, I'm not rigging a ship; I am making this for a play--as much for utility
as it will be for casting interesting shadows.

Thanks again!

--Bootleg Dick


wrote in message
oups.com...
Bootleg Dick schreef:

I am seeking leads or other information on hoe to make a rope ladder (or
ratline) like one sees on ships hundreds of years old.



Hello Dick,

something like this?

http://www.ele-ele.com/culture/knotname9.htm

or classic ratlines that form a weave like this (on the left)?

http://www.esys.org/gofo/ruder1.jpg

these are knotted with clove hitches around the vertical rigging
and the ends are spiced loops, tied to the rigging with seizings
(or the entire ratline is seized to the rigging)
use a spreader while knotting,
the ratlines should not tie the rigging towards eachother

you are rigging a ship?

Ben