2. SEAMANSHIP CH. 4 MARLINSPIKE SEAMANSHIP

3. MARLINSPIKE
Again, the reference text for this chapter is CHAPMAN, PILOTING AND SEAMANSHIP, Marlinspike
AUXSEA STUDENT STUDY GUIDE

4. 3 BASIC TYPES OF ROPE(LINE)
Natural
Synthetic
Wire

5. NATURAL ROPE(Line)
MANILA and COTTON
About the only two kinds of natural rope(line) left.
LINE: Name given to all ropes when put to use aboard a vessel.
Two or three strands TWISTED clockwise to form one single strand.

6. NATURAL ROPE(LINE) MANILA
Made from plant fibers.
Most popular
ADVANTAGES
Readily available
Inexpensive
Very durable

7. MANILA
DISADVANTAGES
Manila deteriorates if stowed wet, damp or left in the bright sunlight.
NOTE
Manila has been virtually replaced by synthetic lines especially for running rigging

8. COTTON LINE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Pliable Runs smoothly in blocks
½ Strength of Manila
Susceptible to rot
Stretches, especially when wet

9. WORKING TOOL(S) FID and MARLINSPIKE
A FID is the instrument or tool used to work on natural and synthetic lines and is usually made of WOOD, PLASTIC or ALUMINUM, SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE LINE while working it.
MARLINSPIKE: In appearance, it may look almost like a FID but is made of STEEL for endurance.

10. MARLINSPIKE (FID)

11. SYNTHETIC ROPE ADVANTAGES
Almost impervious to salt, air, water and anything else that could destroy natural line
Tougher and stronger for their size than almost any other line material
Last a long time
Do a better job than any other kind of line

12. SYNTHETIC ROPE DISADVANTAGES
It tends to “UNLAY” when cut.
Must be whipped or “stopped” immediately.
Open flame or Heating iron good for this.

13. 4 TYPES OF SYNTHETIC ROPES
NYLON
DACRON
POLYPROPYLENE
POLYETHYLENE

14. ADVANTAGES OF NYLON HIGHEST ELASTICITY
CAN ABSORB 7 TIMES SHOCK LOAD OF MANILA
USED EXTENSIVELY FOR TOWING AND MOORING
HIGH RESISTANCE TO ROT
HIGH ABRASIVE RESISTANCE

15. NYLON ADVANTAGES Cont’d
Twice as strong as manila
Can use nylon of smaller diameter in replacing manila lines
Cheaper in the long run
Extremely flexible
No breaking in period

16. NYLON Disadvantage NOTE MAIN DISADVANTAGE
When it reaches the end of it’s elongation, it will SNAP, like a rubber band, becoming extremely dangerous to anybody or thing in it’s path.

17. DACRON Has all the properties of Nylon BUT; is NOT as Elastic
Fairly light in weight
Mostly has replaced cotton lines on most vessels

18. POLYETHYLENE ADVANTAGES It floats. DISADVANTAGES
Low abrasion resistance
Not nearly as supple as other synthetics
Knots need to be secured

19. POLYPROPYLENE Low abrasion resistance Again not very supple It FLOATS
**Stronger when it is wet**

20. WIRE ROPE
Generally confined to use on sailing vessels and larger boats.
Many strands of wire are wound over an inner core of either wire or fabric such as cotton or a synthetic fabric.
The core provides a source of lubrication(when oiled)(or graphite) to ease the friction of the wires and also provides some elasticity or give.

21. 5 GRADES RELATIVE TO STRENGTH
WIRE ROPE
5 GRADES RELATIVE TO STRENGTH
IMPROVED PLOW STEEL
PLOW STEEL
MILD PLOW STEEL
TRACTION STEEL
IRON

22. WIRE ROPE
Used where GREAT STRENGTH or HEAVY LOADING is needed, such as STANDING RIGGING and CABLE TOWING
Extremely stiff
Must use a MARLINSPIKE to work with it
Difficult to work with

23. CARING FOR YOUR LINES
Neglect can be very expensive. TAKE CARE OF YOUR LINES.
DO NOT OVERLOAD: Generally, safe working strength is 1/5 the BREAKING strength.
PROTECT AGAINST ABRASION: Always use chaffing gear.
AVOID SUDDEN STRAINS ON THE LINE:
KEEP YOUR LINES CLEAN: Sand, dirt and grit will grind away the material in a line. Wash them as needed.

24. LINE CARE (Cont’d) 6. STORE YOUR LINES PROPERLY:
a. FAKING: YES. When appropriate
b. COILING: YES. When appropriate
c. FLEMISHING: YES. When appropriate
d. CHORDING:NO. Bunched up and thrown into a rope locker! Even when you do it wrong, there is a proper name for it! DO NOT CHORD your lines! .

25. COILED-FLEMISHED-FAKED

26. LINE CARE Cont’d 7. Match your line to the use
8. Keep all chemicals away
9. Avoid excess wear
10. Avoid kinks
11. Don’t run lines over sharp edges

27. PARTS OF A LINE Working End Standing Part Bitter End Overhand Loop
Underhand Loop
Standing
Part
Bitter End

28. DIPPING THE EYE
Used where more than one vessel’s mooring line is used on the same pile.
DOCKING: Your EYE SPLICE up through the other eye splices – over the top and let settle around the piling.
UNDOCKING: lift your eye splice up over the piling then pull through other eye splices from the bottom.
YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY.

29. DIPPING THE EYE

30. SQUARE (REEF) KNOT
Most common way to join two lines of EQUAL DIAMETER together, where no great load is anticipated.
The square knot will JAM if heavily loaded, making it almost impossible to break it down without cutting it out.
It may also be forced into two half hitches, under great strain.

31. SQUARE KNOT
animation

32. BOWLINE Used to form a TEMPORARY LOOP in the end of a line.
Won’t slip under a load
Easy to tie and untie
One of the MOST USEFUL knots we have today.

33. BOWLINE
animation

34. HALF HITCH Used in conjunction with other knots.
Round turn with two half hitches commonly used as a long term fastening to secure a line to a piling.

35. Round Turn

36. Round Turn
animation

37. HALF HITCH
animation

38. USED TO TIE A LINE TO A RING,
TWO HALF HITCHES
USED TO TIE A LINE TO A RING,
PILE, POST OR GROMMET
EASY TO UNTIE
UNDER TENSION
MORE PERMANENT THAN A CLOVE HITCH

39. CLOVE HITCH
Used to TEMPORARILY fasten a line to a piling or other attachment.
MUST WATCH IT(so that it does not undo).
When under a strain, it will not slip.
When under a hard strain, it will set up tight and may be difficult to break down.
On the other hand, if left slack, it may work itself loose.

40. CLOVE HITCH
animation

41. TIMBER HITCH Very useful in towing logs or other similar objects.
Fast and easy knot to tie and break down.
If you use half hitches with this knot, tie them FIRST , then proceed with the timber hitch.

42. TIMBER HITCH
animation

43. ROLLING HITCH
A utility knot which can be tied around another line already under strain to maintain the strain.
Can be be bent to a spar or other similar object.
Used to form a bridle for towing.

44. ROLLING HITCH (UTILITY)

45. SHEET OR BECKET BEND
Used to tie two lines of UNEQUAL DIAMETER together.
Easy to break down after a heavy strain.
DOUBLE BECKET: Simply an extra turn back under and through.

46. SHEET OR BECKET BEND
animation

47. DOUBLE BECKET/SHEET BEND

48. SPLICING Preferred method of joining two lines together
EYE SPLICE:To make a PERMANENT EYE at the end.
LONG SPLICE: Does NOT increase diameter of the line. Good for use with blocks, sheeves.
SHORT SPLICE: May increase lin Preferred method of joining two lines together e diameter and is not used to run through a block, etc.

49. MOORING DEVICES
BITTS
BOLLARDS
CLEATS
SAMPSON POSTS

50. BITTS
Used to moor large vessels.
Normally found on commercial piers.

51. BITTS
animation

52. CRUCIFORM
BOLLARD

53. CLEAT Found on boats and docks of all sizes.
Used to secure lines of all sizes and uses

54. CLEAT
animation

55. LARK’S HEAD

56. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 1
The clove hitch is used to tie a line to a pile or bollard when_______
a. a permanent fastening is required
b. when “dipping your line” is required
c. securing hemp lines only
d. a temporary fastening is desired

57. REVIEW QUESTIONS
The clove hitch is used to tie a line to a pile or bollard when______
d. a temporary fastening is desired

58. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO.2 a. Fisherman’s bend
2. Which knot is most useful to temporarily join the ends of different diameter lines? The _________
a. Fisherman’s bend
b. Square or Reef knot
c. Sheet or Becket Bend
d. Sheepshank

59. REVIEW QUESTIONS
2. Which knot is most useful to temporarily join the ends of different diameter lines? The___________
c. Sheet or Becket bend

60. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 3
3. The preferred method of joining rope ends permanently is by use of a ___________
a. knot
b. splice
c. marlinspike
d. turnbuckle

61. REVIEW QUESTIONS
3. The preferred method of joining line ends permanently is by use of a _________________
b. splice

62. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 4
4. Which of the following types of line has the highest elasticity?
a. Manila
b. Dacron
c. Cotton
d. Nylon

63. REVIEW QUESTIONS
4. Which of the following types of line has the highest elasticity?
d. Nylon

64. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 5
5. The most popular and durable of natural fibers used in the manufacture of rope for marine applications is ______
a. flax
b. sisal
c. cotton
d. manila hemp

65. REVIEW QUESTIONS
5. The most popular and durable of natural fibers used in the manufacture of rope for marine applications is ________
d. manila hemp

66. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 6
6. The bowline is a knot which is relatively easy to tie and is ______
a. especially useful for forming a temporary loop
in the end of a line.
b. difficult to untie and tends to slip
c. most useful for reefing sails
d. never used to tie sheets to the clew of the jib sail

67. REVIEW QUESTIONS
6. The bowline is a knot which is relatively easy to tie and is ______
a. especially useful for forming a loop

68. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 7
7. Cotton rope has about _____ as much strength as compared to manila?
a. ¼
b. ½
c. ¾
d. equal

69. REVIEW QUESTIONS
7. Cotton rope has about _____as much strength as compared to manila?
b. 1/2

70. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 8
8. Rope made of the synthetics Polypropylene and Polyethylene_____
a. are more supple than Dacron and Nylon
b. will float
c. have a higher abrasion resistance than
Dacron or Nylon
d. are stronger when wet than when dry

71. REVIEW QUESTIONS
8. Rope made of the synthetics Polypropylene and Polyethylene _____
b. will float

72. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 9
9. When laying down a long line on deck for possible full length use, the line should be ______
a. flemished
b. faked
c. coiled or wrapped
d. braided

73. REVIEW QUESTIONS
9. When laying down a long line on deck for possible full length use, the line should be ________
b. Faked

74. REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 10 10. Where is Nylon sometimes dangerous?
a. in the open sun
b. in dark, damp storage
c. when tightly spliced
d. under a heavy towing load

75. REVIEW QUESTIONS 10. Where is Nylon sometimes dangerous ?
d. under a heavy load

76. END OF CH. 4