Knots,
Bends, Hitches and Splices in common use.
Someone
with a romantic outlook has called this the 'art of the sailor man' but in
these notes we will do without the romance and offer limited and strictly
practical instruction on the real essentials. Further study is recommended
and there are many good books on the subject. If you live in the
Central Coast area you should consider booking in with Coastal Patrol for our
Practical Seamanship course.
Selection of just the right knot for the job is essential and the type and
size of rope has a bearing. Synthetics tend to have a smooth surface, some
more so than others, and the holding power of knots and splices will be
affected accordingly. Remember too, to consider the 'lay' of the rope;
many knots and splices require some degree of twist, and laid rope may
resist this, buckling or kinking if forced. The rope will cooperate much
better if tension is taken out by a half twist at the right time in the
knot making process or when coiling.
The
ends of a rope will unravel if not secure. Melting the exposed filaments
of synthetic rope will help but not for long if the line is in regular
use. A tight whipping is necessary using the correct thickness of whipping
twine. there are several variations of whippings but in these notes we
will only deal with the most common:
There are many opinions about the range of knots, etc., necessary for
practical use on small craft. The recommended list is as follows:
