Capt.

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Any number of braided lines would eliminate the problem, assuming that coiling isn't putting twists in. But if your client really wants the appearance of 3-strand ó and I must say that it would look olde-time suitable here ó then there are some tricks.
Boatfall reeving should help, of course (see the "Apprentice"), but the biggest difference will be in the quality of the rope; you want something that is well-balanced, and this is rather hard to come by. Buff Polyester is pretty good, so I'd give it a try. And then I'd subject it to the procedure shown as #129 (pg. 29) of the "Ashley Book of Knots". You might also try running a bungee cord, set up as shown in our "Basic Braided Splicing" handbook, down the length of the rope, to work the constructional twists out. Finally, if you are still getting some spirals, two-block the load, and then lower it slowly, twisting the line a bit at a time, in whichever direction tends to stop the purchase from spiralling.
Remember, people have dealt with very similar situations for, oh, several thousand years, so we know it can be managed.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[Fred Endemann]

Thanks, Brion. I did not read your entire reply about looking at Ashleys and the Apprentice for boatfalll reaving. I obviously need to do some research. You mentioned that this problem has been going on for centuries, but all I can think of is loading cargo from a spar/gaff. : the load could easily spin and create the frictiion that I am talking about. Still have not had the time to "simulate" the problem in my cellar laboratory with my collection of old lines, blocks, and cleats.
Thanks for hosting a great website. FRED E.