seamanship sklll

2. SEAMANSHIP CH. 4
MARLINSPIKE SEAMANSHIP

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

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

5. 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.

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. MARLINSPIKE (FID)

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 4 TYPES OF SYNTHETIC ROPES
1. NYLON
2. DACRON
3. POLYPROPYLENE
4. POLYETHYLENE

14. 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

15. 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

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
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

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

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

20. 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.

21. WIRE ROPE
5 GRADES RELATIVE TO STRENGTH
1. IMPROVED PLOW STEEL
2. PLOW STEEL
3. MILD PLOW STEEL
4. TRACTION STEEL
5. IRON

22. 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

23. 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.

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
Bitter End
Standing
Part
Overhand
Loop
Underhand
Loop

28. 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.

29. DIPPING THE EYE

30. 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.

31. SQUARE KNOT
animation

32. 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.

33. BOWLINE
animation

34. 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.

35. Round Turn

36. Round Turn
animation

37. HALF HITCH
animation

38. 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
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.

40. CLOVE HITCH
animation

41. 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.

42. TIMBER HITCH
animation

43. 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.

44. ROLLING HITCH (UTILITY)

45. 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.

46. SHEET OR BECKET BEND
animation

47. DOUBLE BECKET/SHEET BEND

48. 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.

49. MOORING DEVICES
1. BITTS
2. BOLLARDS
3. CLEATS
4. SAMPSON POSTS

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

51. BITTS
animation

52. CRUCIFORM
BOLLARD

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

54. CLEAT
animation

55. LARK’S
HEAD

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

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

60. 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

61. 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

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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. END OF CH. 4