Ropework
Ropeworkormarlinespike seamanshipare umbrella terms for a skillset spanning the use, maintenance, and repair ofrope.Ropework is used by seafarers, climbers and military personnel.[1]
Included are tyingknots,splicing,makinglashings,whippings,and proper use and storage of rope.
While the skill of asailorin theAge of Sailwas often judged by how well he knewmarlinespikeseamanship, the knowledge it embraces involving docking a craft, towing, making repairs underway, and more is still critical for modern seafarers.
Whippings
[edit]Awhipping knotis a means of holding the cut end of a rope together to prevent fraying and ensure ease of use. The simplest form is thecommon whipping.Constrictor knotscan serve as temporary whippings while cutting ropes, as can a few layers ofadhesive tape.
Other fray-prevention techniques include back-splicing,aglets,or the application of a rubberized adhesive coating, resin, or paint to the cut end. Some modernsynthetic fibers,such asnylonandpolyestercan make use of alternative methods such as fusion, which uses heat to melt the fibers to make a clean cut and permanent end; this technique cannot be used with non-melting fibers such asaramids.
However, the rope and knotting expertGeoffrey Budworthwarns against the practice of fusing thus:[2]
Sealing rope ends this way is lazy and dangerous. A tugboat operator once sliced the palm of his hand open down to the sinews after the hardened (and obviouslysharp) end of a rope that had been heat-sealed pulled through his grasp. There is no substitute for a properly made whipping.
See also
[edit]
- List of knots
- List of knot terminology
- Marlinspike– Tool used in marine ropework
- Rope splicing– Semi-permanent joint between two ropes
References
[edit]- ^Stronge, Charles (2012).SAS and Elite Forces Guide to Ropes and Knots: Essential Rope Skills from the World's Elite Units.London: Amber Books Ltd.ISBN9780762778034.
- ^Budworth, Geoffrey (1985).The Knot Book.New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. p. 37.ISBN0-8069-7944-5.
