Pioneering Work 1
Show the ability to make a Trestle and a Portable flag mast, using staves.
Trestle
Portable Flag mast
H-Base
Parts of the rope
You won't need to be told that a piece of rope will have two ends! However, in order to work with ropes, it is useful to be able to refer to different parts. The main parts of a rope are called:
Working end - The end of the rope you are using to tie a knot;
Standing end - The end of the rope opposite to that being used to tie the knot;
Standing part-Any part between the two ends. It can be a part of the rope already used in the knot;
Loop - A loop made by turning the rope back on itself and crossing the standing part;
Bight - A loop made by turning the rope back on itself without crossing the standing part.
Types of Rope
Laid ropes - These are ropes normally consisting of three strands which run over each other from left to right. Traditionally they are made from natural fibres, but nowadays they tend to be made from synthetic materials
Braided ropes - These are ropes which consist of a strong core of synthetic fibres, covered by a plaited or braided sheath. (They are always made from synthetic materials.)
Natural ropes - These are relatively cheap and are made from such natural materials as hemp, sisal, manila and cotton which are easy and pleasant to knot. They have the disadvantage that they have a low point at which they can withstand stress before breaking, and other characteristics can be unpredictable because the natural materials with which they are made may have flaws.
Synthetic ropes - These are relatively expensive but last a long time. They are superior in that they are generally lighter, stronger, less prone to rot, water resistant and better able to withstand difficult and extreme environments
Wire ropes are available but are rarely used in Scouting.
How ropes are measured
Ropes are normally measured by their circumference. For example, a 75mm rope is approximately 25mm in diameter
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