Deck General Flashcards
Marlinespike Seamanship
is the art of handling and working with all kinds of line or rope.
There are three basic types of rope used aboard vessels
natural, synthetic, and wire
What is the most commonly used rope
Synthetic
What is the most expensive rope
Synthetic
Once rope is placed aboard a vessel and put into use it is called
Line
Lines are made of natural or synthetic fibers twist into
yarns
the yarns in rope are grouped together to form
strands
The strands of yarn are suited, plaited, or braided, in various patterns, to form
line.
Whether strands are twisted to either the right or the left is called the
“lay” of the line
Line is usually constructed as
plain laid, plaited, and double braided line.
When held vertically, a ling with strands that run from the lower left to the upper right is
right-laid
A rope with strands running from lower right to upper left would be
left-laids
Bight
A loop of line
Coil
Lay down a ling in circular turns on top of one another
bitter end
free end os a length of line
eye
closed loo in the end of a line
lay out a line in long, flat bights
fake down
tapered would tool used in slicing lines
fid
coil a line flat on deck
flemish
hawser is
a heavy line over five inches
Which has a lower breaking strength for its size, natural fiber line or synthetic fiber line?
Natural fiber line
Unlike synthetic line, natural fiber line does not
snap back after being stretched. It should not be used for load bearing.
Natural line will _____ if stowed wet
rot
What line has has great strength, elasticity, and resistance to weather. It comes in twisted, braided, and plaited construction, and can be used for almost any purpose where its slippery surface and elasticity is not a disadvantage.?
Nylon
What line has about 80% of the strength of nylon, but will only stretch to 10% of its original length
Dacron
What has 50% of the strength of nylon, is 25% lighter and float in water?
Polyproplene or “polly”
Double braided nylon has two other characteristics which increase its strength
elongation and elasticity.
Elongation refers to
the stretch of the line
elasticity
elasticity refers to the ability of the line to recover from elongation.
Synthetic line will stretch farther and recover (return to normal length) better than natural line. Because of this,
synthetic line can absorb the intermittent forces and surges resulting from waves or seas much better than natural fiber line.
While its superior strength makes double braided nylon line the preferred choice for load bearing, there are some disadvantages.
Because it will stretch further (elongate) and still recover (elasticity), the snap back potential if the line parts is greater than with natural fiber line. Double-braided nylon has become the line of choice for towing.
Also, if nylon line is doubled and placed under excessive strain, there is a danger that the deck fittings might fail. If that happens, the line will snap back with tremendous force, bringing the deck fitting with it.
Synthetic line slips much easier than natural line. Because of this, it will slip through deck fittings and not hold knots as well.
Use caution when bending synthetic line to an object or to another line to ensure that the knot won’t slip.
When using synthetic lines always keep the following considerations in mind:
- Use caution when paying it or surging it from deck fittings.
- Beware of slippage when bending synthetic line together or securing it.
- Never stand in any position exposing you to the dangers of snap back if the line parts.
- Never double up a tow line.
- Keep the working surfaces of deck fittings clean and free of paint and rust. Never stand in the bight of a line.
- Always be cautious of, and stand clear of, any line under strain.
Natural fiber will deteriorate quickly if not
coiled, and stowed in a dry, well-ventilated area away from sunlight. Natural fiber line should be washed and dried before stowing.
Synthetics require the same protection
, except that they may be exposed to sunlight. Although they may be stowed wet, introducing unnecessary moisture in to the stowage compartment may not be wise.
General Line Guidance
- Keep all lines free from chemicals. Always match the line to its intended use.
- Misuse will greatly reduce its useful life.
- Use chafing gear made of old hoses, leather, or heavy canvas to line where it runs over rails, chocks, or other surfaces Bitts, cleats, and chock surfaces should be kept smooth to reduce line abrasion.
- Avoid sharp angles through deck fittings. This creates significant abrasion and increases the wear rate.
- As a general rule, assume the safe working load is one-fifth of the breaking strength.
If uncoiled improperly, natural fiber laid line, can become tangled, kinked and unusable. The proper uncoiling procedure is as follows:
Inside the center tunnel of the coil, locate the end of the line. Position the coil so the inside line end is at the bottom of the center tunnel. Start uncoiling the line by drawing the inside end up through the top of the tunnel. Do not pull on any kinks that develop, as they will develop into permanent hockles.
The recommended method for unreeling synthetic fiber lines is to:
Insert a pipe through the center and hang the reel off the deck. Draw the line from the lower reel surface. Do not “throw” twisted fiber lines off the reel - it will cause tangles and kinks. Instead, three-strand synthetic lines should be faked down on deck and allowed to relax for twenty four hours.
Safe zones for tending lines
are those areas at right angles to the direction of tension. Synthetic line stretches about 50 percent before it will break. Snapback is extremely dangerous and has caused severe injuries, and death. Exercise the utmost caution when working with or around all synthetic lines.
Always keep a constant eye on any line under strain.
Difference between knots, bends and splicing
knots and bends are used for temporary joining, while splices provide a permanent joining
Joining can reduce the breaking strength of a rope
by 50 - 60%
A splice, however, is stronger than a knot. A carefully made splice may have up to
95% of the strength of the line being spliced.
The bitter end of a line is
the moving or working end. In rigging, the running end is usually the leading end.
A bight is
an unclosed loop that turns back on itself. Bights are often used to take up slack or add strength to line.
A round turn is formed when
a line is wrapped 360 degrees (1 time) around a stationary object.
Whipping is
a means of securing the end of a cut line to prevent unraveling.
Good knots are
easy to tie, easy to untie, and hold well. A good knot should not untie itself.
A knot used to secure lines together is a
bend
A knot used to secure a line to an object, such as a ring, eye or stanchion,is a
hitch.
SQUARE KNOT as a reef knot
it is used to bend together two lines of equal size.
Remember “right over left, left over right”
Make sure that both sides exit the bights the same way, otherwise, it’s a granny knot that will slip and jam.
A square knot won’t slip, tightens under pressure, but remains easy to untie after the tension is released.
Half Hitches are used for
temporarily securing a line to objects such as a ring, eye or post. One of their advantages is their ease in untying.
The half-hitch is made by taking a turn around an object and then back around itself, bringing the bitter end of the line through the inside of the loop.