Do ratlines extend beyond the futtock shrouds to the lubbers hole?
Is the futtock shroud tied directly to the main shroud?
If there was a top, ratlines would run from the dead-eyes to the
futtock on the shrouds, and thence on the futtocks up to the top.
If, instead, there were just trees instead of a top, the ratlines would run
from the dead-eyes all the way to the trees, through the futtocks.
{John O. Kopf}
Futtock shrouds are terminated at lower ends in a variety of ways,
depending on which mast, and how large a ship. For larger masts
they usually were not tied to shrouds of mast below.
{Don Stauffer}
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