Cal Poly Maritime – Marlinspike (DL 1115) Practice Test

End for end distributes wear along the rope by swapping which end sits on the drum. The bitter end is the end secured to the drum, while the free end is the portion you haul. When you end for end a wire rope, you remove it from the drum and reverse it so the free end becomes the bitter end, then wind it back onto the drum in the opposite direction. This alternates wear between the two ends over time and extends rope life. After the operation, inspect for damage and ensure proper securing.