® Seamanship Chapter 8 Marlinespike

® Slide 2 of 35USPS® Seamanship Learning Objectives  Marlinespike seamanship encompasses the art and science of working with rope and line.  With the completion of this material the recreational boater should understand knots, bends, hitches and splices. It also includes the selection and use of line and the proper care of line.

® Slide 3 of 35USPS® Seamanship Definitions  Marlinespike A pointed tool used in splicing to open the strands of rope or cable.  Marlinespike Seamanship General knowledge of knots, bends, hitches, splices, and care of rope.

® Slide 4 of 35USPS® Seamanship Definitions  Rope Cordage made of natural or synthetic fibers, also can be made of steel wire.  Line Name given rope aboard a boat. Each line is given a specific name, such as: anchor line, halyard, main sheet, spring line or dock line. A few are still called rope, as in bell rope.

® Slide 5 of 35USPS® Seamanship Definitions  Working Part Section of line used in forming a knot  Standing Part The part of a line that is made fast The portion of the line not used in forming a knot The part of the line around which the knot may be tied In use, normally under strain.

® Slide 6 of 35USPS® Seamanship Definitions  Bitter End Inboard end of a line, chain or cable The end made fast to the boat  Working End Attached to an anchor or cleat, etc.

® Slide 7 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Bight  Standing part  Free end  Turn  Round turn Bight Round Turn Turn Free End Standing Part Definitions

® Slide 8 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Braided Diamond braid over a core Easy on hands High strength Slippery  Common laid rope 3 strands twisted Tends to kink Stretches more Hard on hands Inexpensive Choosing A Line

® Slide 9 of 35USPS® Seamanship Rope Strengths  Safe load is 20% of breaking strength  Dacron® is the trade name for polyesterfiber

® Slide 10 of 35USPS® Seamanship Effect of Knots  Lines are weakened by: Knots Splices

® Slide 11 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Nylon Strongest and most elastic Elasticity absorbs shock Good for anchoring and mooring  Polyester (Dacron®) Minimum of stretch Good for running rigging aboard sailboats  Polypropylene Not as strong as nylon or dacron Subject to abrasion, chafe & deterioration from sunlight Good point - it floats Material

® Slide 12 of 35USPS® Seamanship Chafing Gear  Protects line from chafing on chocks and hawse Pipes  Commercially available  Home made using old Water hose

® Slide 13 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Start by lacing line over your hand  Form generous loops until line is coiled  Make two turns around coil  Feed working end through coil Coiling a Line

® Slide 14 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Tosser Splits line coil in half Tosses line underhand to the receivers side  Receiver Holds an arm out as a target. Lets line fall over an out-stretched arm Heaving a Line

® Slide 15 of 35USPS® Seamanship 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%

® Slide 16 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 17 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 18 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Good Uses Furling sails Reefing sails Lashing small stuff  Should not be used for a varying load Reef or Square Knot

® Slide 19 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 20 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 21 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 22 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 23 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 24 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 25 of 35USPS® Seamanship  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

® Slide 26 of 35USPS® Seamanship Caring for Lines  Overloading  Avoid kinks & sharp bends  Avoid chemicals  Protect against chafing  Regular cleaning

® Slide 27 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Stow carefully  Coiling  Flemishing Caring for Lines

® Slide 28 of 35USPS® Seamanship 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.

® Slide 29 of 35USPS® Seamanship Winch This is the incorrect way to lead a line to a winch. This will jam.

® Slide 30 of 35USPS® Seamanship 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

® Slide 31 of 35USPS® Seamanship Blocks and Tackles 1:12:13:14:1 5:1 ABC DE

® Slide 32 of 35USPS® Seamanship Making an Eye Splice  Step 2 A B C b c a  Step 1 ABC abcabc

® Slide 33 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Step 4 A B C b c a Making an Eye Splice A B C b c a  Step 3

® Slide 34 of 35USPS® Seamanship  Step 5  Making an Eye Splice

® Slide 35 of 35USPS® Seamanship Chapter 8