Apprentice Requirement
#5 - Seamanship
- Using both large and small line, tie and explain the use of the following knots:
- Demonstrate the ability to use a heaving line.
The Square or Reef Knot
- The reef-knot is only useful in simple applications.
- It is easy tied and will not jam, so it is always easy to untie.
- Ashley says "it is a true Binder Knot, for which it is admirable, but under no circumstances should it be used as a bend."
- For tying reef points and bending lines together.
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The Bowline
- Used to form a temporary loop in a line which may then be put over a piling or cleat.
- It can also be used to attach a line to an eye.
- This knot won’t slip or jam.
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The Clove Hitch
- Used to temporarily tie to a piling.
- This knot can come loose.
- You may add a couple of half hitches to make it more permanent.
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The Sheet Bend
- Used to join together 2 lines of different diameters.
- It is useful when using a light heaving line to pass a heavier tow line to a boat or dock line to shore.
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Two Half Hitches
- Used to tie a line to a post or dock eye.
- This knot will slide, resulting in a tight grip on the post.
- The knot can slip apart under high stress loads so it should NOT be used for "mission-critical" things like tying a rode to an anchor.
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The Figure-of-Eight
- The figure eight knot is made in the end of a rope.
- It is used to stop a rope from going through a device (usually a block or eyebolt).
- It is bulkier than an overhand knot.
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The Cleat Hitch
- Used to secure the boat to a dock or secure a line to the boat.
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Heaving Lines
- A heaving line is a line used for throwing from one location to another.
- This enables a larger line that could not be thrown over the distance to be pulled over.
- The most common use of a heaving line is at sea, to pull a cable to shore from a ship.
- A cable is not easily thrown over a distance of 30 ft or more, so instead one throws a heaving line.
- The line is tied to the cable and when it has been received the cable can then be pulled over.
- The line must be longer than the distance it is to be thrown or it will fall short.
Throwing a Heaving Line
- Coil the line carefully with the:
- Draw of the loops toward the free end
- Loops smaller than those made for other purposes
- Hold the shipboard end of the line in one hand and the coil to be thrown in the other.
- Throw the coil in an underhand, strong, swing motion.
- Release it when the arm is well above the shoulders at not to great a distance.
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