small engine. Tne winches are located in the open, Just aft or along- 

 side the mast. 



The current power take-off arrangement aboard shrimp boats 

 often includes various undesirable mechanical features and safety 



Mechanical transmd-ssion from the main engine is undesirable 

 for winch motivation since the speed of the winch can be controlled 

 only by regulating the speed of the main engine. Since the speed of 

 the engine in turn affects the propeller speed, it is impossible to 

 reduce the speed of the boat and accelerate the winding rate of the 

 winch at tne same time. In addition, this system has no provision 

 for absorbing sudden changes in the load on the winch such as occur 

 when the vessel is rolling. 



Hydraulically driven winches are more desirable because tney 

 (1) are more efficient] (2) offer quicker acceleration} (3) have higher 

 torque J (U) are easier to control and to handle in rough weather; and 

 (5) are safer. 



Recent Improvements in Rigging 



Some new methods in rigging have been introduced in recent 

 vears. At present, however, these methods are not yet in common use 

 and have still to be accepted throughout the fleet. The most unpor- 

 tant of innovations is concerned with the method of securing the main 

 net towing lines on the centerline of the vessel. The common method 

 of doing this is to so maneuver the vessel with a port helm that the 

 taut towing lines cross the transom and can be manually secured to a 

 chain dovmfall fastened to the deck and equipped with a hook, ihe 

 block and fall at tne end of the boom is also hooked around tne cables 

 and is used to hoist them about eight to nine feet above the deck. 

 The towing cables remain in this position throughout the trawling per- 

 iod. This system has been the cause of many serious accidents on shrlji?) 

 boats. If the fall parts while the vessel is towing, the bottom block 

 is jerked dovm by the towing cables, often with enough force to go 

 through the deck. The possibility of this occurrence makes the common 

 practice of working on the afterdeck near or under the two lines ex- 

 tremely hazardous. 



A small number of vessels have been equipped with a steel 

 rod with a hook at its lower end, which is secured at the end of tne 

 boom. After the towing cables have been hoisted in place by means 

 of the block and fall, the rod and hook are substituted for this run- 

 ning gear, which is then released, and the cables are then held in 

 place by the steal rod and hook. The towing strain is then taken by 

 the steel rod and hook and the rig is not dependent upon the strength 

 of a piece of manila line. This operation has been further refined by 

 tne use of a yoke which is slotted at the centerline. As the cables 

 cross the stem of the vessel, they slide up this yoke and settle in 

 tne slot. They are then locked in place by a steal finger which 

 covers tne top of the slot. This yoke, or gallows, is generally 



93 



