Futtock shrouds

Using the futtock shrouds involves climbing the underside of an overhanging rope at about 45 degrees.

As well as climbing the futtock shrouds, most ships also allowed access to the top through the "lubber's hole" at the tip of the ordinary ratlines.

However, this was generally scorned by experienced sailors, and reserved for those on their first few trips aloft.

Any traditionally-rigged ship will have futtock shrouds, but on some modern ones they are strictly for structural purposes, with climbing forbidden.

These ships may also dispense with lubbers' holes, and instead opt for a "Jacob's ladder" that descends from the edge of the top to the ratlines vertically, rather than overhanging like the futtock shrouds.

A top , with the futtock shrouds shown in blue beneath it.
As well as tops , crosstrees will also have futtock shrouds. Because crosstrees are smaller, there is less need for alternatives to the futtock shrouds as a way past them. This sailor is about to climb out round the edges of the crosstrees using the futtock shrouds.