Rigging Tools & Accessories

Rigging tools are part of the traditional maritime equipment used for rigging, splicing, sail making, covering of wires or fancywork. These include a marlinspike, which is considered a universal tool on board. When splicing, it is used to push the individual strands apart, and you can also loosen tight knots or open shackles with it. The hollow fid version has advantages for splicing ropes. A marlinspike made of hardwood or horn is called a fid. A very small marlinspike is called a pricker. For sewing, the rigger needs a sailmaker's glove and an awl. Both tools …

… make it easier to insert sailmaker's needles into heavy material. Traditionally, wire splices and wires are covered with tarred spun yarn to protect against corrosion. First, tarred or greased sailcloth gets wrapped around the wire. After that, with the help of a wooden serving mallet, the yarn is tightly wrapped around it.