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MSC-132: Fishing Gear Technology I

Terminology for , Splices, & Rope1 Introduction The earliest used by primitive man were probably vines. But somewhere in early history man learned to twist and fibers to make stronger, surer and safer ropes. Down through the years has served mankind as an important tool for hauling, lifting, and securing. Much of the history of knots is unauthenticated, but we do know that knots have provided useful friction since Neolithic man first tied stone to a stick for tools and weapons. The use of knots employing stringy vegetation was certainly helpful to man prior to written history. In fact, knots may rank with the great discoveries of man. The wheel, fire, cultivation of soil, and the axe probably were discovered thousands of years the . The earliest sailors developed knot tying into an art. By the early nineteenth century, sailors who could seldom write their own names had invented a bewildering array of complicated knots - many of jealously guarded secrets. Knots are a vital factor in marine occupations as well as many other branches of industry. More recently, the increase in marine related occupations and leisure activities, as well as the manufacture of a wide variety of synthetic material for ropes and related gear has stimulated a more scientific approach to the evaluation of line strength, knot testing procedures, and the production of related gear. No matter who you are, the ability to tie the right knot quickly and correctly, is valuable knowledge. Knots, Bends, Hitches, & Splices Most people call any method of tying rope or cordage a knot. However, experts recognize a difference between knot-tying and splicing. In general terms, a splice permanently joins the ends of two ropes, or forms a single rope into a permanent loop. On the other hand, knots are a method for temporarily attaching rope to an object, another rope, or to itself. Knots are further divided loosely into four classes: Knots are tied with the end of a rope, or on the , or upon its own standing part. Bends are used to fasten (bend) two rope ends together. Hitches are used to secure a rope, either end or bight, to a hook, ring or . It may also be used to form a loop or a in a rope. Ornamental knots are practical or decorative knots frequently used at the end of lines or sennits to form stops or grips. Generally speaking we will not address purely ornamental knots in this class although we will occasionally refer to the practical functions of these knots. A rope with a knot or splice in it is weaker than an unknotted or unspliced rope. In general, splices weaken a rope less than hitches; and, hitches weaken a rope less than knots and bends. A poor knot, often called a "granny" or a “lubber's" knot, will not hold in the strongest rope, nor will the most skillful knot make a poor grade of rope safe.

1 Excerpts for this chapter have been extracted wholly or in part from the following resources: Chapman, Charles: Piloting - Seamanship & Small Boat Handling. 61st. Ed. Hearst Marine Books, New York, N.Y. 1994. Graumont, Raoul: Handbook of Knots. Cornell Maritime Press, Centreville, Md. 1994. U.S. Power Squadrons: . USPS, 1994.

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

In selecting which knot to use, the technician should consider: The use of the knot Whether the knot will slip The type of rope Whether the knot needs to be permanent When selecting which rope should be used in a given application, the technician should consider: The intended use of the rope The strength The type of construction The workability The material Marlinespike seamanship is admittedly not a precise science, and therefore, most knotting procedures have many methods and differing terminology. The materials and methods discussed in this class are to be considered a basis for acquiring further knowledge. With that in mind, the following terms and definitions should become part of your vocabulary. While the list is certainly not all inclusive, nor does it address the many regional variances that you will encounter during your careers, it will provide you with a solid foundation for discussing, studying, and working with ropes. There are 205 terms in this document; you will be tested on them in about three weeks. You should aim to learn at least 10 words per day to be ready for your test! “To have all words and little know-how is to invite ridicule. But too much scoffing at jargon is also faulty. The middle ground is a blend of appearances and understanding”.

Terms

Abeam – A direction at right angles to the centerline of the boat. Axis - The axis of a knot is the spar or ring around which the knot is tied. - A specific knot, generally used to fasten an anchor line to an anchor. Backsplice- A splice in which the strands are reversed and interwoven, to make a rope end. Beam – The width of the boat at its widest part. Becket - A loop or eye made in the end of rope or wire; A spliced eye. Becket Bend - An efficient bend used for uniting the two ends of a rope or the end of a rope to an eye. It jams tight with a strain, will not slip, and is easily cast off. Belay - To make a rope or a line fast by winding it in figure-of-eight fashion around a , a , or a pair of . (Alternate: It also means to stop or cease.) Belaying pin – A pin of either wood or metal set in such places as pin rails, etc., upon which to belay a rope or secure the running . Bend - One of several types of knots, a combination of turns and tucks, used to fasten a line to a spar or another line; to fasten by means of a bend or knot. Bight - The slack in a line between its ends or the central part of the rope between the working end and the standing part. Bitt - A strong post of wood or iron, similar to a Samson post, on in the or , to which anchor, mooring, and towing lines may be fastened. Bitter End - The last part of a line doing useful work. Binding Knot – A knot that either constricts a single object or holds two objects snuggly together. Whippings, , and lashings serve a similar purpose to binding knots, but contain too many wraps to be properly called a knot. In binding knots, the ends of the rope are either joined together or tucked under the turns of the knot. 2

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Block - A mechanical device consisting essentially of a frame or shell, within which is mounted a sheave or roller over which rope is run. There are many varieties of blocks which are at times called pulleys, or, when rigged, a and tackle. The name pulley, when applied to a block, is a misnomer, because the pulley is only the sheave or roller, not the whole device. Block-and-Tackle- Any of several arrangements of blocks (pulleys) and line to gain a mechanical advantage. Bollard - A strong cylindrical mooring point. Bollard and bitt are nearly synonymous. A single bollard can be encountered, although the usual pattern is paired. Bollards are generally found on piers. Boltrope – A piece of rope sewed into the edge of a piece of canvas or a to give added strength and to prevent the canvas from ripping. Bosun’s Chair- A seat, sometimes a rigid plank, sometimes made of canvas, used to hoist a person aloft to repair rigging. - The “king of knots” used to make a loop in a line; this knot is simple, strong, virtually slip-proof, and is very easily untied. Braid – To plat, plait or interweave strands, , ropes or cords. Braided Line- A modern configuration of rope; it may be a single braid or double braid (one core braid inside another). Breaking Strength – See Minimum Breaking Load Bridle - A line or wire secured at both ends in order to distribute a strain between two points. Cable-Laid - Cable-laid rope is composed of three ropes laid together left-handed; each of these three individual ropes contain three strands laid together right-handed. (It is also called hawser-laid rope.) Canvas – A woven fabric of cotton or flax used for , awnings, and many other shipboard purposes. It is made in varying degrees of weight or quality, numbered from 00, the coarsest, to 10, the finest weave. The term in nautical parlance is synonymous with the word “sail.” Capsize - Altering the appearance or shape of a knot by changing only the strain. A knot that has capsized (or spilled) has deformed into a different structure. Although capsizing is sometimes the result of incorrect tying, improper drawing-up, or misuse, it can also be done purposefully in certain cases to properly draw- up the knot (such as the ), or to untie a jammed knot which would otherwise be difficult to release (such as the ). Capstan - A vertical on deck, used for hauling, such as the anchor line. Carrick Bend- A useful knot for fastening two lines together, particularly hawsers, cables, or other ropes too large or stiff to be hand cinched. It will not jam even after carrying a significant load or being soaked with water. Cast- To tie a knot. Cast Off - To loosen or unfasten; to undo all mooring lines in preparation for departure. Catch a - To take a turn, as around a capstan or bitt, usually for holding temporarily. Chafe- Abrasion or wear. Chafing Gear- Cloth, tape, or other material fastened around a line or other rigging to prevent wear. Chock- A fitting on a boat’s deck through which a mooring line leads over the side. If it has jaws and an uncovered top, it is called an open chock. If the top forms an enclosed eye it is a closed chock. Cleat- A lighter shipboard fitting with horns (lugs) projecting out sideways. It is used to belay a rope or line. Cleat Hitch - The distinctive crisscross or figure-eight hitch used to fasten (belay) a line to a cleat. Clinch – A form of bend consisting of a bight or eye made by the end to its own part. Clockwise – Rotation in the direction of the hands of a clock, or right-handed, in contradistinction to counterclockwise, or left-handed. 2

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Clove Hitch- A double-loop hitch, generally used around a piling or bollard; easily adjusted. Coil – A series of rings, or a spiral, as of rope, cable, etc. Most natural fiber rope is sold by the coil. Also, to lay a rope or cable down in circular turns. Cordage - A term that includes all rope and small line, whether made of natural or synthetic fibers. Core - A small rope run through the center of heavier rope. Also referred to as the heart. Counterclockwise – Opposite in rotation to the hands of a clock, or left-handed, in contradistinction to right-handed or clockwise. Cow’s Tail – Frayed end of rope. Also referred to as dead men and Irish pennant. Cross Turns – Turns taken around a rope at right angles to the turns of the lashings or seizing. Crown – In knotting, to tuck the strands of a rope’s end so as to lock them in such a manner as to prevent unraveling by back-splicing the strands. Dead Men- The frayed ends of a line. Same as cow’s tail and Irish pennant. Dolphin- A small group of piles, in the water, tied together into a single structure, generally used for mooring or as a channel marker. Double-Braid - Rope made with a braided core and a braided cover, usually of synthetic fibers. Draw up - To shape a knot by pressure and pulling the ends until it has the correct appearance and is firm enough to prevent capsizing. Commonly referred to as cinching or tightening the knot. Quick or careless tightening may result in a useless tangle. Dynamic Load – Any non-static load on a system (e.g., rope, cable, crane); a moving, “live” load with vertical and/or horizontal movement; the forces generated when a falling or swinging load is caught. This is very common for loads being hoisted on ships due to the constant motion of the ship. Dynamic loads will require higher Safety Factors than Static Loads. End - In knotting, that part of a rope extending from the bight to its extremity, in which the standing part of the rope is on one side of the knot, and the end on the other. Two types of ends are Working Ends and Standing Ends. End Seizing – A round seizing on the ends of ropes. Eye- A closed permanent loop in rope or hardware. The eye is often incorrectly referred to as a “loop.” Also, note that an eye is fixed and will not slip. If it slipped, it would not function as an eye, but rather as a noose. - A fixed loop in the end of a line, made by intertwining strands of rope or by tucking an outer core of double-braid rope back into itself. – a device to guide a line, rope, or cable around an object, out of the way, or to stop it from moving laterally. Typically, a fairlead will be a ring, hook, or hole in a structure. Fake- One flat loop or coil of rope which is coiled free on a surface ready for running out quickly without tangles. Also, to fake down a rope is to coil rope in flat loops so that it is free for running. Fall – All of the parts of rope connecting the blocks in a tackle. A fall has both a hauling part and a standing part, with the latter being the end secured to the tail of the block. In some cases, only the hauling part is considered as the fall. Fancy Work- Decorative or ornamental knots. Fast- Attached or secured to. To make fast means to secure or attach. Fathom – A nautical measure equal to six feet; used for measuring water depths, and also for indicating the lengths of lines, cordage, and anchor chains. Fiber – The smallest thread-like tissue of a rope, cord, or thread, such as the fibers of cotton, Manila, nylon, etc. They are twisted to make the from which the rope is made. 3

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Fid - A tapered plastic, metal, or wooden tool used to separate strands or of a line; this tool is generally used in conjunction with splicing. Figure-Eight- A knot, usually in the end of a line used as a stopper, to prevent the end of the line from passing through a block or fairlead. Flat Seam – The most common method of sewing two pieces of canvas together. The seam is made by lapping the two pieces of canvas, then pushing the needle through the lower piece, and up through the piece to be joined. Flax – The fibers of the flax plant twisted into yarns for the purpose of making ropes, cords, and small stuff, as well as canvas fabric. Flemish- To coil a line spirally, laid flat on deck, either for appearance or to make a mat. Flemish Eye – An eye in which the strands are not interwoven (such as in splicing), but are separated and bound down securely to the main part with seizing. Frap – To bind together tightly and secure. Frapping is sometimes differentiated from the term “wrapping” when discussing . When lashing objects together, wrapping is to wind your binding material (usually rope) around the items being lashed together, while frapping is to wind your binding material around itself. Wrapping brings the lashed items together, while frapping generally tightens the lashing. Wrapping and frapping are often used together to form a very secure lashing. Frapping Turns – Same as cross turns. Fouled – Any piece of equipment that is jammed or entangled, or dirtied. Gear – A general term for ropes, blocks, tackle, and other equipment. Grommet- A ring or eyelet, as in a sail; a rope grommet is a round, endless ring of rope made by unlaying the rope, then using one strand spirally, twisting onto itself, replacing the original strands. Rope grommets are often used for handles or slings. Cable grommets are also created in a similar fashion with wire rope. – Any rope used for steadying purposes. Gypsy – The drum of a windlass or winch around which a line is taken for hauling in. Half-Hitch- The simplest knot, usually part of another knot, as two half-hitches or a fisherman’s bend. - A line used to hoist a spar or sail aloft. Hauling- Pulling on an anchor line, or a rope or line is simply called hauling. Hauling out is removing a boat from the water. Hauling Line – Usually a line sent down from aloft for the purpose of hauling up gear. Any line used for hauling purposes. Hawse Hole- An opening in the hull, through which mooring lines are run; also known as a cat hole. Hawse Pipes - Fittings in the hawse holes through which dock or anchor lines may run. Hawser- In general, any line larger than 5 inches in circumference that is used for towing, mooring, or dock lines on larger vessels. Heart- A thin core in the center of a line. See core. Heave- To pull strongly on a line; to throw a line. Heave Taut – To pull tight or stretch. Heaving Line- A lightweight line with a weight at the end, made to be easily thrown across a gap such as between a ship and shore, or from one ship to another; once thrown across the gap, a heaving line can be used to pull a larger, heavier line (such as a dock line), cables, or chain across the gap; when used to pull a heavier line/chain across a gap, it is being used as a messenger line. The name Heaving Line refers to the function of being thrown. Rope – Rope made from the fibers of the hemp plant. 4

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Hitch- A knot attaching a line to an object, such as a cleat, ring, or spar. Hockle – A kink in an inner yarn of a rope which forces the yarns to the surface. Hockles can be corrected by stretching the rope and twisting the hockle free. Also called cockles. Irish Pennant – Same as cow’s tail and dead men. Also Irish pendant. Jam- To wedge tightly; jamming knots are knots which are difficult to untie after use. Jute – The fibers obtained from East Indian plants, used in making sacking, burlap, twine and rope. Kink- A twist in a rope. Knot- Turning rope on itself to create fiction. Also, Knot – A nautical mile equal in distance to one minute of latitude, or 1.15 statute miles; a common contraction for speed expressed in nautical miles per hour. Lacing – Small rope or cord used to secure canvas or sails by passing it through eyelets in the canvas. Lang-lay Rope – Wire rope in which the individual wires comprising the rope are twisted in the same direction as the strands which make up the rope. Lanyard- A strap or length of rope, usually decorative, from which something hangs or for which it serves as a flexible handle: the clapper of a bell or the pull on a whistle. Lash- To secure by binding with rope or small stuff. Lashing – A binding or wrapping of small stuff used to secure two or more objects together in a rigid manner, as lashing an eye to a spar, or lashing together an arrangement of sailing masts. Lashing Eye – Loops in the ends of two ropes, through which are passed the lashings which bind them together. Lay- The direction of twist of a stranded rope, usually to the right. Also can be a measure of the twist’s hardness (soft, medium, or hard lay). In essence, it refers to the angle from the axis of the rope that the strands take as they intertwine. Turning the strands at a large angle produces a more compact rope than the loose or soft lay resulting from a smaller angle. Leadline – A line marked off in fathoms and weighted at one end with a lead, used for measuring water depths; also called a sounding line. Left-Hand Lay- Stranded rope made with the twist to the left. Most rope is right-hand lay. Life Lines – Safety lines and guardrails rigged around a boat’s deck to prevent the crew from being washed overboard. Line- A line is a piece of rope with a specific use or “job.” By contrast, rope is the cord from which line is formed (e.g., mooring lines, anchor line, safety line, etc.). Rope becomes line when it is put to work. Long Splice- A splice joining two rope ends, made by untwisting strands, thinning and removing ends, so that the final splice is no thicker than the original line; a long splice will thus go through a block without jamming, but it is not as strong as a short splice. Loop- A narrow necked bight which creates a closed circle in a line. A loop is one of the fundamental structures used to tie knots. Manila- A term used to describe rope made from the fibers of the abaca plant (a large herbaceous plant of the banana family native to the Philippines). A natural fiber rope, largely supplanted by synthetic ropes. Marline- Light two-stranded line, formerly made from hemp, used for lacings, whippings, and seizings. It is available either tarred or untarred. Marlinespike- A tapered metal tool for splicing or separating strands of a line. Marry – To bind or join two lines together temporarily, either side by side or end to end. Meshing Gauge – A measuring tool used in making the meshes in nets. It may be of any length to suit the user’s convenience, but its width determines the size of the mesh in the net. Thus, a meshing gauge one inch wide will form a mesh one-half inch square. 5

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Meshing Needle (Net Needle) – Needles such as these are usually made of plastic, but many have traditionally been made from wood or light metal. They are used in the form of a shuttle for passing the twine and tying knots in the making of nets. It should be understood in winding the twine on the needle, that both the needle and the twine it contains must be small enough to pass through the mesh of the net. They may be of any desired length. Messenger Line – A relatively light line used for hauling heavy lines, cables, or chains across a gap (such as from ship to dock, or ship to ship), or through a tube or duct. It may also refer to line used to lower an object. The term Messenger Line refers to the function of transferring an object that the line is fastened to. Heaving lines are often used as messenger lines. Minimum Breaking Load (MBL) - The load, in pounds of “pull” or force, at which a rope, chain or other item would break. Commonly referred to as Breaking Strength, Breaking Load, or Tensile Strength. Monkey Fist- A special and fancy knot, used to weight the end of a heaving line. Moor – To secure or make fast (a boat, ship, plane, bouy, gear, etc.) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore, a pier, a mooring buoy, or an anchor; to fix firmly in a particular place Mooring Line – A line such as a hawser used for mooring a vessel. Mouse, Mousing- Turns of twine or wire, taken across a hook or to prevent accidental unhooking. Net Needle – See Meshing Needle Nip – A short turn in a rope. Also, to pinch, squeeze, or compress tightly. Nylon (PA) - A polyamide synthetic material with a long-chain molecule; nylon fibers are used for ropes and sailcloth, when elasticity is desirable; hard nylon is used for some rigging parts, such as sheaves. Over-And-Under Sequence - In tying a knot, whenever two sections of the rope cross each other, one must go over and the other, under. Be careful to follow this “over-and-under” arrangement exactly, otherwise you get either an entirely different knot or no knot at all. - A loop made by crossing the end over the standing part. - A towline or tie-up line for a dingy or other small boat. A short piece of rope secured to the bow of a small boat, used for making the boat fast. Not to be confused with sea painter. Palm – A sailor’s “thimble.” It is comprised of a leather strap with a metal plate placed over the palm of the sailor’s hand. It is used primarily in sewing and mending sails and canvas. Part – To break. Pay Out- To slack off on a line or let it run out. Pendant – A length of rope with a block or thimble secured to its end. Plain Laid Rope – Rope in which three left-handed strands of right-handed yarn are twisted together (also called right-handed rope). Plait- Same as braid and plat. See braid. Plat – Same as braid or plait. See braid. Polyester (PES)- Synthetic material (one trade name, Dacron) used for fibers for rope and sailcloth; polyester is stronger and has less elasticity than nylon. Polyethylene (PE) – Lightweight, synthetic material used for cordage fiber in ropes where floatation is desirable. Very similar to Polypropylene (and used for similar applications). Slightly heavier with a little less strength but more elasticity than Polypropylene. Polypropylene and Polyethylene ropes are generally used interchangeably and may simply be referred to as “poly” rope. Polypropylene (PP) - Lightweight synthetic material used for cordage fibers, dingy painters, headropes on gillnets and other uses where floatation is desirable; not as strong as other synthetics, the fibers are sometimes combined with others for special purposes. May simply be referred to as “poly” rope. 6

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Port – The left side of a boat, when looking forward from stern to bow. Rack – To seize two ropes together with cross turns of spun yarn or small stuff. Rack Seizing – Small stuff rove around two lines in an over and under figure-of-eight fashion. Reef – Sailing term which means to reduce the sail area without removing the sail entirely; this is done by partially lowering the sail and securing loose fabric along the foot of the sail or the . Reef Knot - The knot used to tie in a reef; also called a square knot. This is a Binding Knot which is useful for tying two ends of a line together, as around an object; not a good knot to use when fastening two lines together where the strain will be intermittent. Reeve – To pass the end of a rope through an eye or an opening such as a block, thimble, or bight. Render – To pass through freely. Said of a rope when it runs easily through a fairlead or a sheave. Rigger – A person who works with rigging; a person specializing in the lifting, hauling, and moving of large, awkward, and/or heavy objects with the assistance of ropes, chains, pulleys, slings, hoists, cranes, etc. Rigging - The wire rope, rods, lines, hardware and other equipment that support vessel operations. is semi-permanent once set up; or running gear consists generally of blocks and tackles and similar mechanical devices expected to move or to run in use. Right-Handed – Direction of rotation from left to right (clockwise or with the sun), in contradistinction to left-handed (counterclockwise or against the sun). Rode - The anchor line, which may be line (fiber rope), chain, or wire rope. - A knot useful for attaching a line to another line, cable or to a spar. Rope - Cordage made of fiber (either synthetic or natural) or steel; rope may be braided or formed with twisted strands; when in use aboard ship it is generally called line. Round Seizing – A method of securing two ropes together, or the parts of the same rope to form an eye. Round Turn - Passing a line completely around a spar, bitt or another rope. Running Part - The end of line used in making a knot. More commonly referred to as the working end. Running Rigging – All the lines of a ship used to control the sails or moveable appendages. Safe Working Load (SWL) – The manufacturer’s recommended maximum weight load for a line, rope, cable, crane, or any other lifting device or component of a lifting device. This is the maximum load that can safely be applied to a system in a given configuration. Often used interchangeably with Working Load Limit (although the two terms are slightly different). The SWL is determined by dividing the Minimum Breaking Load (MBL) of a component by a Safety Factor (SF) assigned to that type and use of component. Safety Factor (SF) – A ratio by which a rope is de-rated to obtain the Safe Working Load; Safety Factors express how much stronger a component is than it needs to be for an intended load, which is often necessary to account for a Dynamic Loads, gear deterioration/fatigue, and a general margin of error. The Safety Factor is calculated by the Rigger as the Minimum Breaking Load (MBL) of a lifting component (e.g., rope, cable) divided by the maximum anticipated weight/force of the load being lifted; commonly expressed as a ratio. Safety factors for fiber ropes are generally at least 5:1, and normally won’t have a need to exceed 15:1. Said another way, the MBL of a fiber rope should be a minimum of five times the weight of the object the line will hold (and a maximum of 15 times the weight it will hold). Safety Factors are generally assigned by the Rigger based on OSHA regulations, job site guidelines, manufacturer’s recommendations, and other safety considerations. (Also known as a Factor of Safety FoS or FS). Sail Needle – Long spur steel needles, triangular at the point and cylindrical at the eye. There are two types, known respectively as sewing and roping needles, and these are in turn called short and long spur needles. Sewing needles come in sizes 6 to 14 and in half-sizes to 17½. Size 15, which is 2½ inches long, is used the most. 7

Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Sea Painter – The line attached to a lifeboat used to sheer the lifeboat away from the ship’s side and to keep the lifeboat near the mother ship to pick up remaining crew. Samsonpost- In a small vessel, a single bitt forward used to fasten the anchor and dock lines. Secure - To attach, fasten, or make fast. Secured End – The part of a line which is attached or made fast to an object. Seizing - A tight lashing with twine securing two parallel parts of line. Selvage – A border woven in fabric, or the edge of the fabric closed by complicating the threads so as to prevent raveling. Netting also has finished or selvage edges. – Braided cordage or small stuff, usually of ornamental design. The different kinds are known by many different names, according to their design. Shackle - A metal link fitting with a pin across the throat, used to connect lines to an anchor, fasten blocks to a spar in rigging, or a line to sampling gear. Sheave -A grooved wheel or pulley over which rope or rigging wire runs, used to change the direction of force; often sheaves are part of blocks. Bend - A knot useful for bending a line to an eye or to join two lines of different sizes. Short Splice - A quick splice, as the end of two lines together, that is moderately strong but will not always run through a block or fairlead, because of its bulk. Sisal – Fibers of the henequen plant, an agave varietal indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula. Slack - That part of a rope, secured at both ends, which is hanging loose; the opposite of taut. - To sling a piece of cargo, such as a barrel, by passing a line around it. Or, a sling may be an arrangement of short pieces of rope or chain used for hoisting cargo and other similar purposes. The rope sling or strap is the most common of these. A rope sling is made of short pieces of rope spliced together. Slip - A method of using a part of the line as a toggle. This is usually done using a bight instead of an end in the last step of casting a knot, resulting in a “slipped knot” (or an easily untied version of a knot). The “bow” you tie in your shoelaces is a method of creating two slips – each bight of the “bow” is a slip which makes untying your shoes easier than had you tied an un-slipped version of the same knot (a reef knot). 1 Small Stuff - Light cordage, such as twine, less than /3 inch (6-8mm) in diameter or 1 inch in circumference. Spar – A , , gaff, or boom. Splice- To join two lines, or make an eye, by tucking strands or otherwise interweaving parts of a rope; braided rope that has a core and a cover is usually spliced by tucking one inside the other. Square Knot- see Reef Knot Standing End - Fixed end of line; the part opposite of the Working End. Standing Part -The portion of a line not used in making a knot, or the part of the line around which the knot may be tied; in a block and tackle, the part of the purchase that does not move when power is applied to the hauling part. Standing Rigging – That part of a ship’s rigging used to support its spars which is not altered with the ordinary working of the ship. Starboard – The right side of a boat, looking forward from the stern to the bow. Static Load – A load on a system (e.g., rope, cable, crane) that doesn’t change over time; the force when the system is motionless. Static Loads requires less of a Safety Factor than Dynamic Loads. Stay – A piece of rigging; usually a rope or wire used as a support for a mast. Stop – To seize or lash, usually temporarily.

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Terminology for Knots, Splices, & Rope

Stopper- A knot at the end of a line to prevent slipping through a hole, closed chock, or sheave. Also, A short line, one end of which is secured to some fixed object, used to check or stop a running line. Strand – Part of a rope, made up of yarns, the twist of the strand usually being opposite to that of the yarns, except in back-handed rope. Tackle – An assembly of ropes and blocks arranged to provide mechanical advantage for hoisting, lowering, or hauling operations. Sometimes called block and tackle. (Also pronounced tay-kle.) Take a Turn – To pass a line around a cleat, post, or bitt. Taut – Tight; the opposite of loose or slack. Tensile Strength – See Minimum Breaking Load. Thimble - A grooved piece of metal, either circular or teardrop-shaped, used to hold the eye of a rope or cable; intended to keep an eye from being crushed and/or to offer abrasion resistance to the inside of an eye. Thread – Yarn or small stuff made into strands. Small rope or cord is often designated by the number of threads or yarns it contains (e.g., 6-thread seizing stuff). Tie – That part of a halyard which hoists a yard. Also, to make a knot. Toggle – A small wooden pin made of hardwood which is inserted into a knot to make it more secure or to make it more readily and quickly unfastened. Turn- A turn is taken by looping the rope once around an object; in knot tying, turns are often taken by looping the rope around itself. Turns are also useful in Turnbuckle- A threaded, adjustable, rigging device for adjusting the tension or length of ropes and cables. Often used for and lifelines. It normally consists of two threaded eye bolts, one screwed into each end of a small metal frame, by which tension can be adjusted by rotating the frame to cause both eye bolts to be screwed in or out simultaneously without twisting the eye bolts or attached cables/lines. Twine - Small stuff or light line used for whippings or sewing; sail twine is used for sewing. Two Half-Hitches - A useful knot, in which the hitches are made upon the standing part of the line and then drawn up (tightened). Underhand Loop- A loop made by crossing the end under the standing part. Unlay- To separate the strands of a rope. – To lash the end of a rope to prevent it from fraying. Also used to designate different kinds and arrangements of blocks and tackles, as single whip, double whip, etc. Whipping - Twine wound around a line, as on the end or at an eye splice, to add strength and prevent fraying or abrasion. Winch - A device, on deck, or otherwise mounted, which provides a mechanical advantage when hauling or adjusting the tension of a rope or cable. In its simplest form, it consists of a spool (or drum) attached to a hand crank. More complex designs have gear assemblies and can be powered by electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or internal combustion drives. Windlass- A specific type of winch used especially on ships to hoist, haul, heave, or deploy equipment such as heavy mooring lines, anchors, or fishing trawls. May be mounted vertically or horizontally. With the Sun – Rotation in the direction of the sun, clockwise, or right-handed; in contradistinction to against the sun, counterclockwise, or left-handed. Working End - The active end of the line in casting a knot; the part opposite of the Standing End. Yarn – Any number of threads or fibers twisted together from the various fibers of which rope and cords are made.

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