Fixing the ropes (7)
I believe the answer is:
rigging
This clue is a double definition.
'fixing' is the first definition.
(rigging is a kind of fixing)
'ropes' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
'the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for rigging that I've seen before include "Ship's tackle" , "falsifying of votes in election" , "Ropes, etc, on a sailing ship" , "Ropes for ship's sails" , "part of craft?" .)