NS100

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NS100

• Fundamentals of
• Naval Science

Marlinspike Seamanship
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Objectives
1. Explain the fundamentals of marlinspike
seamanship. 2. Describe the difference between
rope and line. 3. Describe the construction
and measurement of fiber rope and wire
rope. 4. Describe the difference between
natural and synthetic lines.
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Objectives
5. Describe small stuff. 6. Describe the
difference between a short splice and a long
splice. 7. Define marlinspike seamanship terms.
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Definition
Marlinspike seamanship is the art of -
handling - maintaining - working with line or
rope, including every variety of - knotting -
splicing - lashing.
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Rope and Line
Rope - general term that refers to both fiber
and wire. It is manufactured from
fiber, wire, or a combination of the two. Almost
every fiber rope in use on board ship is a line.
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Rope and Line (classification and construction)
Fiber rope - Commonly called line, it is
fashioned from natural or synthetic
fibers.
- Measured by circumference - Types of
construction - Twisted - Braided - Plaited
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Rope and Line (classification and construction,
contd)
Types of fiber rope Natural
Synthetic Aramid - manila -
nylon - 4 strander - cotton
- polyester kevlar - hemp -
polypropylene
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Rope and Line (classification and construction,
contd)
Wire rope - basic unit of construction is the
metal wire. - Measured by diameter. -
Construction individual wires are laid together
to form strands, and strands are laid together to
form the wire rope.
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Rope and Line (classification and construction,
contd)
Wire rope (contd) - Designated by - number
of strands per rope, and - number of wires per
strand. - example 6 x 19 6 strands per
rope 19 wires per strand
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Rope and Line (classification and construction,
contd)
Wire Rope (contd) - - large number of
small wires produces high flexibility but low
abrasion resistance. - a small number of
large wires would stiffer, but more resistant to
abrasion. Cores - - single wire
strand adds strength - fiber adds
flexibility.
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Rope and Line (classification and construction,
contd)
Combination - - measured by diameter
- six main strands of fiber and wire
rope interwoven, laid around a fiber core.
- used as mooring lines for extra strength -
fiber rope adds great flexibility and elasticity
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Natural vs Synthetic
Fiber rope may be fashioned from natural or
synthetic fibers. Some natural fiber is still
used in the Navy, but it is being replaced
by synthetics.
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Natural vs Synthetic(contd)
Important differences - Synthetic fiber lines
slip more easily. - Synthetic line has higher
breaking strength. - Synthetic line
has poor knot-holding
characteristics. - Synthetic lines stretch under
load.
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Synthetic Line Construction
3-strand double-braided
plaited Breaking Low High
Medium strength Abrasion
Best Low Medium
resistance Relative High Low
Highest stretch Cost
Low High Medium
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Synthetic Line Materials
Nylon Polypropylene
Polyester Breaking High Low
Medium strength Abrasion Best
Poor Good resistance Relative
High Medium Least
stretch Cost Medium Low
High
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Small Stuff
Line or rope less than 1 3/4 inches in
circumference. Identified by the number
of yarns (threads) it contains, rather than its
size. Marline - Two-strand, tarred hemp, used
for serving a line. Houseline -
Three-strand, left laid tarred hemp for light
seizing, light rigging, and work exposed to
weather.
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Small Stuff(contd)
Seizing stuff - Very small, used for
fancier jobs that marline can accomplish.
Ratline stuff - Dark brown and coarse, it
is primarily used for snaking - nettings
used to prevent personnel from washing
overboard. Tattletale - Small, natural line
spaced into a synthetic fiber line to provide an
indication of the working load placed on the
line.
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Small Stuff(contd)
Tattletale (contd) - the tattletale for a
three-strand, twisted nylon line consists of a
40-inch natural fiber line spliced between two
points 30 inches apart. The tattletale become
taut when the line is stretched 33 or more.
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Marlinspike Seamanship Terms
Hawser - Heavy line over five inches in
circumference. Used for towing or
mooring. Bight - A loop of line or chain. Bitter
End - Free end of a length of line, wire
chain or cable. Eye - Closed loop in the end of a
line. Marlinspike - Tapered steel tool used in
splicing wire.
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Marlinspike Seamanship Terms (contd)
Fid - Tapered wood tool used in splicing lines.
Coil - Lay down a line in circular turns on
top of one another.
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Marlinspike Seamanship Terms (contd)
Flemish -. Coil a line flat on deck Fake down -
Lay out a line in long, flat bights. Heaving line
- Light weighted line thrown across to a pier or
ship when coming alongside to act as a
messenger.
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Marlinspike Seamanship Terms (contd)
Monkey fist - Knot at the end of a heaving
line to provide weight. Rat-tailed Stopper -
Line designed to take the strain of a working
line while shifting the line about bitts or
cleats. Mousing - Light line across a hook to
prevent a sling from slipping off or a pin from
backing out.
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Marlinspike Seamanship Terms (contd)
Shot line - Light nylon line used in a line
throwing gun Bolo - Nylon line with a lead weight
in canvas or leather, thrown from ship to ship
or from a ship to a pier.
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Review Questions
1. What is marlinspike seamanship? 2. What is
rope? 3. What is line? 4. How are fiber and
wire rope measured differently?
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Review Questions
5. What advantage does synthetic line have
over natural? What are the disadvantages? 6.
What is the purpose of a splice?
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Compliments of Curtis High School NJROTC