Gin pole until the topmost portion of the tower is completed. Gin poles are mounted on flatbed trucks as a primitive form of mobile crane, used for lifting and relocating loads, and salvage operations in lieu of a more sophisticated wrecker. Gin pole A gin pole, derived from gyn, is a supported pole that uses a pulley or block and tackle on its upper end to lift loads. The lower end is braced or set in a shallow hole and positioned so the upper end lies above the object to be lifted. The pole (also known as a "mast", "boom", or "spar")
Block (sailing) matter is slightly complicated by the fact that every tackle has a "working end" where the final run of rope leaves the last sheave. More mechanical advantage can be obtained if this end is attached to the moving load rather than the fixed end of the tackle. There are various types of blocks that are used in sailing. Some blocks are used to increase mechanical advantage and others are used simply to change the direction of a line. A "ratchet block" turns freely when a line is pulled in one direction but does not turn the other direction, although the