SEAMANSHIP CH. 4
MARLINSPIKE SEAMANSHIP
MARLINSPIKE
1. Again, the reference text for this chapter
is CHAPMAN, PILOTING AND
SEAMANSHIP, Marlinspike
2. AUXSEA STUDENT STUDY GUIDE
3 BASIC TYPES OF ROPE(LINE)
1. Natural
2. Synthetic
3. Wire
NATURAL ROPE(Line)
MANILA and COTTON
1. About the only two kinds of natural rope(line)
left.
2. LINE: Name given to all ropes when put to use
aboard a vessel.
3. Two or three strands TWISTED clockwise to
form one single strand.
NATURAL ROPE(LINE)
MANILA
1. Made from plant fibers.
2. Most popular
ADVANTAGES
1. Readily available
2. Inexpensive
3. Very durable
MANILA
DISADVANTAGES
1. 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
COTTON LINE
ADVANTAGES
1. Pliable
2. Runs smoothly in blocks
DISADVANTAGES
1. ½ Strength of Manila
2. Susceptible to rot
3. Stretches, especially when wet
WORKING TOOL(S)
FID and MARLINSPIKE
1. 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.
2. MARLINSPIKE: In appearance, it may look
almost like a FID but is made of STEEL for
endurance.
MARLINSPIKE (FID)
SYNTHETIC ROPE
ADVANTAGES
1. Almost impervious to salt, air, water and
anything else that could destroy natural line
2. Tougher and stronger for their size than
almost any other line material
3. Last a long time
4. Do a better job than any other kind of line
SYNTHETIC ROPE
DISADVANTAGES
1. It tends to “UNLAY” when cut.
2. Must be whipped or “stopped” immediately.
3. Open flame or Heating iron good for this.
4 TYPES OF SYNTHETIC ROPES
1. NYLON
2. DACRON
3. POLYPROPYLENE
4. POLYETHYLENE
ADVANTAGES OF NYLON
1. HIGHEST ELASTICITY
2. CAN ABSORB 7 TIMES SHOCK LOAD OF
MANILA
3. USED EXTENSIVELY FOR TOWING AND
MOORING
4. HIGH RESISTANCE TO ROT
5. HIGH ABRASIVE RESISTANCE
NYLON
ADVANTAGES Cont’d
1. Twice as strong as manila
2. Can use nylon of smaller diameter in replacing
manila lines
3. Cheaper in the long run
4. Extremely flexible
5. No breaking in period
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.
DACRON
1. Has all the properties of Nylon BUT; is NOT as
Elastic
2. Fairly light in weight
3. Mostly has replaced cotton lines on most vessels
POLYETHYLENE
ADVANTAGES
1. It floats.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Low abrasion resistance
2. Not nearly as supple as other synthetics
3. Knots need to be secured
POLYPROPYLENE
1. Low abrasion resistance
2. Again not very supple
3. It FLOATS
4. **Stronger when it is wet**
WIRE ROPE
1. Generally confined to use on sailing vessels and
larger boats.
2. Many strands of wire are wound over an inner
core of either wire or fabric such as cotton or a
synthetic fabric.
3. 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.
WIRE ROPE
5 GRADES RELATIVE TO STRENGTH
1. IMPROVED PLOW STEEL
2. PLOW STEEL
3. MILD PLOW STEEL
4. TRACTION STEEL
5. IRON
WIRE ROPE
1. Used where GREAT STRENGTH or HEAVY
LOADING is needed, such as STANDING
RIGGING and CABLE TOWING
2. Extremely stiff
3. Must use a MARLINSPIKE to work with it
4. Difficult to work with
CARING FOR YOUR LINES
1. Neglect can be very expensive. TAKE CARE OF YOUR
LINES.
2. DO NOT OVERLOAD: Generally, safe working
strength is 1/5 the BREAKING strength.
3. PROTECT AGAINST ABRASION: Always use
chaffing gear.
4. AVOID SUDDEN STRAINS ON THE LINE:
5. KEEP YOUR LINES CLEAN: Sand, dirt and grit will
grind away the material in a line. Wash them as needed.
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! .
COILED-FLEMISHED-FAKED
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
PARTS OF A LINE
Overhand
Working
Loop
End
Underhand
Loop
Standing
Part
Bitter End
DIPPING THE EYE
Used where more than one vessel’s mooring line is used on
the same pile.
a. DOCKING: Your EYE SPLICE up through the other
eye splices – over the top and let settle around the
piling.
b. UNDOCKING: lift your eye splice up over the piling
then pull through other eye splices from the bottom.
YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY.
DIPPING THE EYE
SQUARE (REEF) KNOT
1. Most common way to join two lines of EQUAL
DIAMETER together, where no great load is
anticipated.
2. The square knot will JAM if heavily loaded, making it
almost impossible to break it down without cutting it
out.
3. It may also be forced into two half hitches, under great
strain.
SQUARE KNOT
animation
BOWLINE
1. Used to form a TEMPORARY LOOP in the end of a
line.
2. Won’t slip under a load
3. Easy to tie and untie
4. One of the MOST USEFUL knots we have today.
BOWLINE
animation
HALF HITCH
1. Used in conjunction with other knots.
2. Round turn with two half hitches commonly
used as a long term fastening to secure a line to a
piling.
Round Turn
animation
Round Turn
HALF HITCH
animation
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
CLOVE HITCH
1. Used to TEMPORARILY fasten a line to a piling or
other attachment.
2. MUST WATCH IT(so that it does not undo).
3. When under a strain, it will not slip.
4. When under a hard strain, it will set up tight and may
be difficult to break down.
5. On the other hand, if left slack, it may work itself loose.
CLOVE HITCH
animation
TIMBER HITCH
1. Very useful in towing logs or other similar
objects.
2. Fast and easy knot to tie and break down.
3. If you use half hitches with this knot, tie them
FIRST , then proceed with the timber hitch.
TIMBER HITCH
animation
ROLLING HITCH
1. A utility knot which can be tied around another
line already under strain to maintain the strain.
2. Can be be bent to a spar or other similar object.
3. Used to form a bridle for towing.
ROLLING HITCH (UTILITY)
SHEET OR BECKET BEND
1. Used to tie two lines of UNEQUAL DIAMETER
together.
2. Easy to break down after a heavy strain.
3. DOUBLE BECKET: Simply an extra turn back
under and through.
SHEET OR BECKET BEND
animation
DOUBLE BECKET/SHEET BEND
SPLICING
• Preferred method of joining two lines together
1. EYE SPLICE:To make a PERMANENT EYE at
the end.
2. LONG SPLICE: Does NOT increase diameter of
the line. Good for use with blocks, sheeves.
3. SHORT SPLICE: May increase lin Preferred
method of joining two lines together e diameter
and is not used to run through a block, etc.
MOORING DEVICES
1. BITTS
2. BOLLARDS
3. CLEATS
4. SAMPSON POSTS
BITTS
1. Used to moor large vessels.
2. Normally found on commercial piers.
BITTS
animation
CRUCIFORM
BOLLARD
CLEAT
1. Found on boats and docks of all sizes.
2. Used to secure lines of all sizes and uses
CLEAT
animation
LARK’S
HEAD
REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 1
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
REVIEW QUESTIONS NO.2
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
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
REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 4
4. Which of the following types of line has the
highest elasticity?
a. Manila
b. Dacron
c. Cotton
d. Nylon
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
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
REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 7
7. Cotton rope has about _____ as much
strength as compared to manila?
a. ¼
b. ½
c. ¾
d. equal
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
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
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
END OF CH. 4