Two Blocked
Copyright© 2021 by Yob
Prelude
Landsmen call them pulleys. Seamen call them blocks, and when rove with line through the sheaves, block and tackle. Sometimes, just tackle suffices. Seamen have specific names for different types of blocks and different arrangements of blocks, making different multi-part tackles. The parts of a tackle isn’t a hardware inventory, it’s a count of how many times the line passes between the blocks. Some examples of names of different commonly used tackles, handy billy or gun tackle (same thing), watch tackle, gyn tackle, double tackles. The parts of a tackle are also referred to as purchases. A three part purchase, seven part purchase, etc. There will be a surprise snap quiz at the end of class. Joking. Rigging is important in seamanship, is the point.
All of this rigmarole (a sea term for a snarled mess) of rigging terminology, is background for defining the title of this piece.
TWO BLOCKED. When the two blocks in a tackle, regardless of quantity of sheaves and parts, have been drawn together and not an inch more can be gained, they are two blocked. If you are lifting a load, two blocked is as high as you can go, without re-rigging.
Two blocked is a built-in system obstacle that can not be overcome without drastically changing something in the system. Greasing sheaves won’t allow you to proceed. You are at the designs limit.
Politics function much like tackle. Greater the number of parts, the greater the friction and resistance. Eventually you are two blocked.
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