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Section 20, Marlinespike Seamanship

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Figure 20–1 Three Strand Laid Rope

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Figure 20–2 Braided Line

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Figure 20–3 Overhand knot

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Figure 20–4 Figure-8 Knot

WorkingEnd

Standing Part

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Figure 20–5 Sheet Bend

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Figure 20–6 Double Sheet Bend

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Figure 20–7 Bowline

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Figure 20–8 Clove Hitch

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Figure 20–9 Rolling Hutch

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Figure 20–10 Anchor Bend

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Figure 20–11 Whipping

Figure 20–12 Completed Whipping

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Vocabulary

Becket. An eye in the end of a block used for securing an end of a line; an eye in the end of a rope.

Bend. To make fast a sail to a spar or stay. Also, a knot to secure a line to another line or object.

Bight. Open or closed loop in a line or rope.

Fid. Tapered tool used in splicing.

Hitch. A knot used to secure a rope fast to another rope or to other object.

Knot. General term for securing a line to an object, another line, or itself. Also, unit of speed of one nautical

mile per hour.

Marlinespike. A pointed steel tool used in splicing to open the strands of a rope or cable. See “Fid.”

Seize. To bind by many wrappings of small line.

Seizing. Small stuff for binding.

Splice. Joining lines by interweaving the strands.

Whip. To bind the end of a rope with light line.

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Section 20Supplemental Illustrations

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Cordage

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Parts of a Line

BITTER ENDFixed End of the Line

WORKING ENDKnot-Tying End of the

LineSTANDING

PARTBetween the Bitter and Working Ends

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Types of Line and Weave• Nylon

– Anchor, mooring, dock lines– Stretch w/out damage to fibers

• Polyester– Weaker than nylon– Doesn’t stretch– Common in sailboat rigging

• Polypropylene– Floats– Damaged by Sunlight

Nylon Double Braid

Nylon Three-Strand

Polypropylene

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Bowline

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Cleated Line

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Cleat Hitch

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Square Knot

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- a series of loops and turns that joins 2 lines

- a series of loops and turns that joins a line to something other than another line

Knot - a series of loops and turns in a single line

Bend - a series of loops and turns that joins 2 lines

Hitch - a series of loops and turns that joins a line to something other than another line

Knots, Bends and Hitches

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Basic Knots or Bends

• A good knot is easy to tie and easy to untie

• Knots or bends weaken line by as much as 50%

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• Take a 3/4 turn under the horn away from the load

• Lead the free end over and under the opposite horn

• Lead the free end over and under the other horn

• Tuck the free end under the last turn

Cleat Hitch

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• Start by forming an underhand loop

• Lead the free end under the standing part

• Feed the free end through the loop formed by the underhand loop

• Pull the knot tight

Figure Eight

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• Good Uses– Furling sails– Reefing sails– Lashing small stuff

• Should not be used for a varying load

Reef or Square Knot

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• Use to join two lines of different diameter– Form a bight in one line– Lead the free end of the

second line through the bight and around the Standing part of the first line

– Tuck the free end of the second line under the standing part of line two

– Snug up the bend

Sheet Bend

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• Form an overhand loop

• Feed the free end through the loop

• Feed the free end around the standing part

• Feed the free end into the loop

Bowline

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• Form an underhand loop around the post• Lead the free end above the turn• Now form another underhand loop around the post• Use a half hitch as a “locking knot” to keep the clove hitch from slipping

Clove Hitch

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• Make a round turn around the post or a ring

• Lead the free end around the standing part forming an underhand loop

• Repeat the last step

Round Turn & Two Half Hitches

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• Take a round turn around the anchor ring or a post

• Make a turn around the standing part

• Feed the free end through the center of the round turn

• Make a round turn around the standing part and snug up the bend

Anchor Bend

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• Make a round turn around the standing part of a second line or post

• Lead the line above the round turn• Make a turn around the line

Rolling Hitch

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• Whipping– Used to keep the end of a

line from unraveling• Methods

– With ‘small stuff’ or twine– Taping– Liquid whip– Melting nylon line ends

Common Whipping

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Caring for Lines• Overloading

– Use at 20% of breaking strength– Loading at 75% of breaking Strength may cause damage

• Avoid kinks & sharp bends• Avoid chemicals• Protect against chafing• Regular cleaning

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• Stow carefully• Coiling• Flemishing

Caring for Lines

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Winch• Start by wrapping the line clockwise• Pile the wraps up from the bottom to the top• Make more turns for a heaver load

The correct way to wrap a line around a

winch.

This will not jam.

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Winch

This is the incorrect way to lead a line to a winch.This will jam.

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Blocks and Tackle• Block

– A nautical name for a pulley

• Sheave– Roller in a block over which a line passes as it goes

through the block

• Tackle– Arrangement of line and blocks used to provide

increased mechanical advantage

• Winch– Geared drum turned by a handle and used to pull

lines such as sheets and halyards

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A. 1:1 – 10 lb pull lifts 10 lbsB. 2:1 – 10 lb pull lifts 20lbsC. 3:1 – 10 lb pull lifts 30lbsD. 4:1 – 10 lb pull lifts 40lbs

E. 5:1 – 10 lb pull lifts 50 lbs

Blocks and Tackles

1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1

A B C D E

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• Step 1– Unravel about 12” of line– Temporarily whip each strand– Also whip the base of the loose

strands– Size the eye– Open the strands where you

want to start on the standing part

A B C

abc

Making an Eye Splice

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• Step 2– Lay the splice with the B

strand in the middle over the starting point

– Tuck strand B under strand “b”

– Pull it up snug - but not too tight!

AB C

bc

a

Making an Eye Splice

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• Step 3– Now tuck strand A under the

“a” strand– Pull it up snug - but not too

tight!

AB C

bca

Making an Eye Splice

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• Step 4– Turn the eye splice over as

shown– Tuck strand C under the “c”

strand– Pull it up snug– Retighten the other strands

AB

C

bca

Making an Eye Splice

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• Step 5– Return the eye splice to the

starting position– Begin with strand B going over

the next lay and then under the next

– Continue the sequence with strand A and then strand C

– Make at least 4 to 5 more tucks pulling each strand tight

Making an Eye Splice

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End of Section 20 Slides