MARLINESPIKE SEAMANSHIP

REVIEW 2 QUESTIONS Q1. List two types of combatant craft . a. b. Q2. As a boat passenger, you should obey the orders of what person(s)? Q3. If a boat capsizes while you’re a passenger, you shouldn’t panic for what reason? Q4. What does the term athwartships mean? MARLINESPIKE SEAMANSHIP Learning Objectives: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— Identify the purpose of various types of line and rope. Recognize the procedures used to tie knots, bends and hitches, and to make splices. Identify the procedures for securing at sea. Marlinespike seamanship is the art of handling and working all kinds of fiber and wire rope. Rope is a general term and can include both fiber and wire rope. In the Navy, Sailors generally refer to fiber rope as line, and wire rope is referred to as rope, wire rope, or wire. A better definition of a line is as follows: A line is a length of rope, either fiber or wire, that is in use or has been cut for a specific purpose, such as a lifeline, heaving line, or lead line. A few such lines have the word rope in their names, such as wheel rope, foot rope, and bell rope. In sailing ships, the fiber ropes that gave athwartship support for the masts were so numerous that they actually shrouded the tops of the masts from the view of an observer on deck, hence, the name shroud. Stays, the fore and aft supports, were not so numerous, but there were several on each ship. Running rigging, tackles used to hoist and trim (adjust) the sails and handle cargo and other heavy weights, spanned the areas between sails, yards and decks, and yards and bulwarks. Lines secured the guns to the ship’s sides and prevented them from rolling or recoiling across the gun decks. Gun tackles were used to haul the guns back into battery (firing position) after the guns were fired. Even the anchor cable was made of line. Obviously, line played a vital role in those ships. In today’s Navy, line isn’t used as much as on sailing ships; however, it’s still an important and expensive item. Therefore, every Sailor needs to learn the proper use and care of all kinds of line and wire rope. Today’s Navy uses line made of fiber (natural and artificial); wire rope made of steel, phosphor bronze, and other metal; and a combination of wire and fiber (spring-lay). Lines made from a variety of natural fibers have seen service in the Navy, but most have been replaced by lines made of synthetic fibers. The two most commonly used lines made of natural fibers are marline (tarred hemp fibers) and manila (abaca plant fibers). Manila line was formerly authorized for use only where great strength was required, such as mooring lines, towing lines, personnel transfers at sea and boatfalls. Fiber ropes made of tarred hemp are used in seizing, worming, serving ropes, and lashing. For most applications, nylon line (synthetic fiber) has replaced manila. Nylon line is about 2 1/2 times as strong as manila of the same size, has a greater strength and elasticity, and has a higher resistance to weather. Wire rope usually is substituted for line where the line is subjected to a great deal of wear, weathering, or heat, and where greater strength is required. Spring lay is used for mooring lines, particularly at the bow and stern. FIBER LINE Any rope that is not wire is fiber rope. Except in a few instances where it has special uses, fiber rope is never called anything but line aboard ship. 7-8 Student Notes: