🔍 Key Concepts

• Towing gear design for heavy, long ocean tows • How towing strain and shock loads are distributed through different fittings • Why weak links or poorly shaped fittings are dangerous** in long tows**

💭 Think About

• Think about which fitting is most likely to concentrate stress and cause a weak point in the towline under heavy, surging loads. • Consider which items are commonly seen in professional, long-ocean towing arrangements versus what might be more typical in lighter or temporary rigging. • Ask yourself which option could twist or jam under load and is less ideal for aligning multiple towline legs or bridles in a straight pull.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which fittings are specifically designed to align multiple lines or chains in straight tension (no side‑loading). • Consider which option is least effective at distributing load and most likely to create a stress concentration. • Picture a real deep‑sea tug setup: which three items would you realistically expect to see in a heavy towing bridle or gear list, and which one would stand out as out-of-place?