Posted by Jock on March 27, 2008 at 14:00:14 from 87.105.81.146 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Famour AR readers (was Rowling... ) posted by Andy on March 27, 2008 at 08:41:36:
Why would you need sisterhooks on a jib sheet
to attach to the clew of a jib?
Until the snap shackle (see above) was invented,
sisterhooks provided a good way of effecting a
fastening that might need to be released in a hurry.
They were more secure than a single open hook,
but not 100% so, particularly when the fastening
was rapidly shaken about in a way that would
alternately apply and release tension.
Of course, once moused the quick release advantage
is gone. On Scarab the sisterhooks would
have been for attaching the halyard to the traveller.
The only point in mousing them would have been
if you wanted to raise the sail in a hurry, say
during a battle, without having to check that the
sisterhooks had not fallen out of the traveller
when everything was lying slack.