Sea Scout Academy
Lesson Plan
ORD-6 Marlinspike
This and other plans are for Sea Scout and leaders to teach maritime and leadership skills.
They are based on the 2010 Sea Scout Manual and requirements. Some lessons have an
accompanying PowerPoint presentation. I consider PowerPoint an introduction the topic, to be
followed by hands-on practice. Several lessons will not have PowerPoint, usually because it is
my judgement that PowerPoint is not an appropriate aid to teaching that lesson. Lesson plans
and presentations will be added and modified when ready.
Each plan and presentation has the rank, requirement number and short name. LP means
lesson plan, PPT means PowerPoint. APP means Apprentice, the number is the number of the
requirement. ORD = Ordinary. ABL = Able. QM = Quartermaster. There are a few
miscellaneous items as well.
I created these lesson plans primarily for the Houston area Sea Scout Academy.
However, I hope that they are also useful for other Sea Scout situations and venues. So, I expect
everyone using the lesson plans to modify them to fit their audience and their style. There are
also other resources in the DVD with the Sea Scout Manual, and on www.seascout.org.
I invite comments from those that use these lesson plans, so we can have continuous
improvement. If you are aware of a better example, or a great illustration that is not in them,
please send them to me for inclusion. Especially, if I miss applying a change from the Sea Scout
Manual, Guide to Safe Scouting, or a Coast Guard publication, please contact me so we can keep
these current and accurate.
You may contact me at George@Crowl.org or george.h.crowl@gmail.com.
George Crowl; Skipper, Ship 1996; Sam Houston Area Council
Philosophy: Sea Scout Academy’s primary purpose is to teach the material to the Sea Scout. If
the Sea Scout demonstrates mastery of parts of the subject, then the instructor should annotate on
the class roster what has been passed, in the instructor’s opinion. Skippers have the right to reexamine any Sea Scout in any requirement.
Requirements: Marlinspike Seamanship:
6a. Name the various materials used to manufacture rope, the advantages and disadvantages of
each, and the characteristics of laid and braided rope. Discuss the meaning of lay, thread, strand,
and hawser. Explain how rope is sized and measured.
6b. Using both large and small lines, tie and explain the following knots: stevedore’s knot,
French (double) bowline, bowline on a bight, timber hitch, rolling hitch, marline hitch, and
midshipman’s (taut line) hitch.
6c. Demonstrate the ability to secure a line to pilings, bitts, cleats. and rings, and to coil, flake,
and Flemish a line.
6d. Demonstrate how to cut and heat-seal a synthetic line, and whip the end of a plain-laid line
using waxed cord or similar material.
Reference: See "Rope" on page 103 and “Knots” on page 108.
Equipment Required: One six-foot length of rope per person. Knot tying stand(s) if available.
Examples of laid and woven rope in various sizes and materials (cotton, sisal, manila (hemp),
nylon, Dacron, polyethylene). Examples of threads, strands and hawser. Right- and left-hand
lay, if available. Posts and rings to tie to.
Fire lighter (preferred) or cigarette lighter, knife, or heated cutting tool.
Ratio: 1:6 Instructor:Student, youth make good assistants.
Lesson Plan:
6a. Name the various materials used to manufacture rope, the advantages and
disadvantages of each, and the characteristics of laid and braided rope. Discuss the
meaning of lay, thread, strand, and hawser. Explain how rope is sized and measured.
Introduce by showing each different rope material you have. Discuss characteristics, advantages
and disadvantages. Pp. 103-5 and internet.
Cotton - cheap, weak, not shock absorbent (clothesline). Not to be used nautically. May
be woven or laid.
Sisal - inexpensive, weaker than manila, must be dried, will rot, laid.
Manila - best natural material, expensive, ¼” = 600# strength, must be dried, will rot, 7%
(minimal) stretch. Laid.
Polyethylene - floats, chafes, ¼” = 1200# strength, no rot, deteriorates rapidly in sunlight
Polypropylene - floats, slightly stronger, no rot, oil resistant, deteriorates rapidly in
sunlight
Dacron (polyester) - ¼” = 2400# strength, no rot, oil resistant, 9% (minimal) stretch.
Better for static line uses. Minimal deterioration in sunlight. Usually woven.
Nylon - ¼” = 1800# strength, no rot, oil chemical abrasion resistant, 20% (maximal)
stretch. Better for shock absorbing loads (anchoring, towing). Good UV resistance in sunlight.
Usually woven.
Laid rope - slivers of fiber spun into yarns twisted one direction. Yarns twisted together
(normally 3) opposite direction form strands. Strands twisted opposite direction form rope.
Rope normally 3-strand. Normally right-handed.
Can by 4-strand with a heart.
Cable-laid - three ropes laid together
Hawser - any rope over 5” in circumference
Normally right-handed, can be left-handed
Braided rope - a core (laid or stranded) surrounded by a fully-sheathed braid that protects
the core. The core provides the strength, the braided cover provides the protection from both
abrasion and sunlight.
Rope Sizing - rope is normally sized in diameter up to two inches, then sized in
circumference. Thus a 7” rope is actually a bit over 2” in diameter. In the olden days, all
nautical rope was sized in circumference, but not any more.
Rope Length - rope in a store is normally in feet or meters. A nautical store may sell it in
fathoms (six feet). A coil of rope may be 100 fathoms (mostly land applications) or 200 fathoms
(nautical).
6b. Using both large and small lines, tie and explain the following knots: stevedore’s knot,
French (double) bowline, bowline on a bight, timber hitch, rolling hitch, marline hitch, and
midshipman’s (taut line) hitch.
www.animatedknots.com is a good site to show a knot being tied. Right below “Home Page” on
the left is “Find a Knot” which will take you to most knots you want to access.
Introduce each knot by giving the use, the name, showing how to tie it, and asking students to
follow through with you as they tie it with you. Use both designated Sea Scout instructors (QM
candidates or other knowledgeable Sea Scouts) and, as each Sea Scout masters the knot, the
students themselves to teach other students. Pp. 108-113 and internet.
Students must have extensive practice to master these knots. If they are not used,
they will be lost. They should not be passed on the ability to tie the knot at the end of the
session. A week or two should pass before they are tested to pass.
Stevedore’s Knot - Stopper knot, prevents the end of a rope from running through the
large swallow of a cargo block.
NOTE: After each knot, go back and review every knot done so far, so they retain and
re-emphasize all of the prior knots. Practice makes perfect!
Double Bowline (French Bowline) - Two non-slip ropes for hoisting or lowering (can be
made into an uncomfortable seat).
Bowline on a Bight - increases the strength of a bowline, provides several loops.
Timber Hitch - used to hoist or lower a pole or spar.
Rolling Hitch - used when pulling along the length of a spar. Steady pull only, slacking
and jerking will loosen it.
Marline Hitch - used to lash canvas (sails) to spars or masts (especially towed boats).
Midshipman’s Hitch (Taut Line Hitch) - used for tent guy lines and other lines that may
require adjustment.
6c. Demonstrate the ability to secure a line to pilings, bitts, cleats, and rings, and to coil,
flake, and Flemish a line.
Introduce by discussing what you attach a line to, on board the vessel and ashore. Internet.
Cleat - should be familiar with from APP-6. Use cleat hitch.
Bitt - strong post or pair of posts on a vessel, not used on most Sea Scout vessels. Use an
eye splice or a bowline. Or, wrap it many times like a cleat. Insure it will not slip off with the
tide.
Piling - vertical post on shore or wharf. Use eye splice or bowline. Can use two half
hitches or midshipman’s hitch.
Ring - metal loop to run rope through, normally ashore. For permanent installation, use
an eye splice to make a Lark’s Head, pulling the bitter end through. For temporary usage, use
two half hitches.
Coiling a line - coil a right-hand laid rope clockwise. P. 104
Flaking a line - lay it out in figure 8s, with each 8 closer to the direction the line will be
pulled. P. 104
Flemish a line - coil in a flat coil on a dock. P. 105 and Internet.
6d. Demonstrate how to cut and heat-seal a synthetic line, and whip the end of a plain-laid
line using waxed cord or similar material.
Cutting and Heat Sealing Rope - applicable to synthetic line. If available, use a heated
object, such as a poker or heated knife (insulate your hands!). If not, cut the line with a knife,
and immediately use a fireplace lighter or cigarette lighter to heat seal the ends of the rope. Keep
the end smooth so it will go through a sheave. CAUTION: do not put your hands below the
rope, melting synthetic can drip and cause severe burns! Whipping a rope still provides the
smoothest finish to a rope end. P. 104
Whipping - See the illustration and text on p. 114 for Common Whipping.