Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc 1

Boating Skills & Boating Skills & SeamanshipSeamanship

Boating Skills & Boating Skills & SeamanshipSeamanship

Lesson 11Lines & Knots for Your

Boat

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Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

• Materials used in making rope

• Use, selection and care

• How to store rope

• About rope/line hardware

• Useful knots

• How to secure the boat’s line

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Marlinspike SeamanshipMarlinspike Seamanship

• Art of handling & working all kinds of fiber, synthetic & wire rope

• Includes– Knotting, splicing, worming, parceling,

serving & fancy work

• What to a landlubber is - ROPE

• To a seaman is - LINE

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Type of LineType of Line

• Natural– Manila, Sisal– Shrink when wet and rot when dry– Weaker size for size than synthetics

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Type of Line (cont’d)Type of Line (cont’d)

• Synthetics– Nylon– Strongest size for size of synthetic– Stretches most, resists chafing– Does not shrink when wet– Good for dock lines, towing and anchoring

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LineLine

• Natural fiber– Manila, Sisal, Hemp, Jute, Cotton, Flax

• Synthetic– Nylon, Polyester (Dacron), Polypropylene

• Wire Rope– Steel strands

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Natural Fiber LineNatural Fiber Line

• Best is Manila– Has strength, durability & minimal stretch

• Sisal is cheaper, but inferior

• Disadvantages– Shrink when wet– Rot if stowed wet– Size for size, weaker than synthetic

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Synthetic LineSynthetic Line

• General - good wet/dry strength, resists water, mildew & rot

• Nylon - strongest, resists chafe, has most stretch, good for anchor and mooring

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Synthetic Line (cont’d)Synthetic Line (cont’d)

• Polyester - costs more than nylon, easier & smoother to handle, use anytime, no stretch

• Polypropylene - floats, costs less, deteriorates in sunlight, hard, slips on cleats, cuts

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Manufacture of LineManufacture of Line

• Laid– Right laid– Left laid

• Braided– Single braided– Double braided

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Kinds of RopeKinds of Rope

Braid

Twist

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Composition of Right Laid Line

Composition of Right Laid Line

fibers

yamsstrands

rope

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Double Braided LineDouble Braided Line

core

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Wire RopeWire Rope

• Maximum STRENGTH

• Minimum STRETCH

• Used mostly on sailboats for standing and running rigging

• Used on davits

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Yachting RopesYachting Ropes

Diameter

1/4”3/8”1/2”5/8”3/4”7/8”1”

1-1/8”

(lbs)weight

Per 100ft

1.73.56.6

10.515.020.527.034.5

(lbs)BreakingStrength

1,7503,2006,600

10,20013,50018,50024,00032,000

(lbs)Weight

Per 100ft

2.24.57.6

12.419.323.531.340.4

(lbs)BreakingStrength

1,3002,8504,9007,800

10,78014,00017,50023,500

(lbs)Weight

Per 100 ft.

2.04.06.113.116.322.026.535.2

(lbs)BreakingStrength

6001,3502,6504,4005,4007,7009,000

12,000

WEIGHT AND STRENGTH COMPARISONNYLON DACRON MANILASIZE

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“Ends” of Line“Ends” of Line

• Ends need to be protected from fraying & unlaying

• Ends can be– Whipped with thread/small stuff– Taped with waterproof tape– Dipped in plastic liquid– Melted with heat/flame

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Temporary WhippedTemporary Whipped

start finish Pull & cut

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Making Up LinesMaking Up Lines

• Faking– Laying out line in figure eights so it is free

to run without tangles

• Flemishing– Neat, ornamental way to store line on deck

• Coiling– Proper way to put line away in a locker or

compartment

CoilingFakingFlemishing

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10076

70-6570-6570-65

60605545

95-908785

splices

knots

Losing Strength in RopeLosing Strength in RopeNo knots or splicesAnchor or Fisherman’s bendTimber hitchRound turnTwo Half-hitchesBowlineClove hitchSheet bend or Weaver’s knotSquare or Reef knotEye spliceLong spliceShort splice

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Parts of a LineParts of a Line

Working End

Standing Part

Bitter End

Overhand Loop

Underhand Loop

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Round TurnRound Turn

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Basic Mariner’s Knots & Bends

Basic Mariner’s Knots & Bends

• Figure 8• Square Knot• Clove Hitch• Sheet of Becket Bend• Anchor Bend• Timber Hitch• Bowline• Half Hitches• Rolling Hitch

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Figure 8Figure 8

• The Stopper Knot

• It can be untied after being jammed

• Used on all lines on sailboat except spinnaker sheets

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Square KnotSquare Knot

• Reef Knot - Alternate name– Used to secure reefed sail to boom– Fasten two lines of equal size– Difficult to untie if jammed

• To tie– Right over left, then– Left over right

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Clove HitchClove Hitch

• Used to tie line to piling

• Knot will jam under load

• Difficult to untie if load cannot be relieved

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Sheet BendSheet Bend

• Becket Bend - alternate name

• Ties two unequal sized lines together

• Easy to untie after heavy strain

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Two Half HitchesTwo Half Hitches

• Used to tie a line to a Ring, Piling, Post or Grommet

• Easier to untie under tension and more permanent than a clove

hitch

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• To tie a line permanently to a piling

Round Turn with 2 Half Hitches

Round Turn with 2 Half Hitches

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Anchor or Fisherman’s Bend

Anchor or Fisherman’s Bend

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• To make a temporary loop

– The rabbit comes up through the hole

– Around the tree

– Then back down

into the hole

The BowlineThe Bowline

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• The King of Knots

• Easy to untie

• Tie Jib sheets to Clew of Jib

• Tie lines to fittings

• Tie lines of equal or unequal size together

• Tie a rode to an anchor

The BowlineThe Bowline

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BowlineBowline

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Timber HitchTimber Hitch

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Rolling HitchRolling Hitch

Around once

Around again, cross over first turn passing between the first turn and the standing part of its own line

Tie a half hitch

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Cleats and ChocksCleats and Chocks

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Mooring CleatMooring Cleat

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Belaying to a CleatBelaying to a Cleat

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Jam CleatJam Cleat

Working End

Standing Part

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Lark’s HeadLark’s Head

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Cam CleatCam Cleat

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• Used to protect boat and line

ChockChock

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• Use “through bolts” and backing block

Securing CleatsSecuring Cleats

Backing Block

Deck

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Securing LinesSecuring Lines

Samson Post

Bow Bitts

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• Other boat’s eye on piling

• Your eye can be removed or put on without disturbing the other boat’s line

Dipping the EyeDipping the Eye

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TurnbuckleTurnbuckle

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• On a vessel, pulleys are called blocks

BlocksBlocks

ShellPin

shackle

Outer Strap

Inner Strap

Sheaves

Thimble

Becket

Cheek

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Double Sheave BlockDouble Sheave Block

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ThimbleThimble

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Special LinesSpecial Lines

• Lead Line

• Measures Depth of Water

• Weighted with a lead weight

• (Hollow end for bottom sample)

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• Stern line

• Bow line

• Breast line

• Spring line

Dock LinesDock Lines

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• Spring line

• Bow/Stern lines

Dock LinesDock Lines

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FendersFenders

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• Natural fiber vs. Synthetic line

• Laid vs. Braided line

• Coiling, Faking, Flemishing

• Knots, Bends, Hitches

• Splices

• Securing lines

• Dipping the Line

SummarySummary