Someone with a romantic outlook has called this the 'art of the sailor man' but in these notes we will dispense with the romance and offer limited and strictly practical instruction on the real essentials. If you live in the Port Curtis area, consider booking in with VMRG for our Practical Seamanship course.

There are numerous | books | available on this subject, and listed below are a few of the more important and useful applications. Firstly, one should be familiar with some of the terms used in ropework.

Bight. The middle of a line or, more commonly, a curve or loop taken in a line well away from either end.

Bitter end. The end of a line, rope or wire.

Core. Centre of rope. Modern ropes have separately constructed core and covering (sheath).

Core strand (heart strand). Straight strand running through centre (core, heart) of wire rope.

Fall. End of halyard that is handled, winched and cleated.

Fibres. Smallest part of rope made collectively into yarns which are in turn made up into strands that are then used to form the whole rope.

Frapping turns. Turns of rope binding things together.

Heart strand (core strand). Straight strand running through centre of wire rope.

Lay. The 'twist' pattern of a three strand rope.

Lay up. Twist strands together to form a rope.

Marry. Interweave unlayed strands prior to splicing together.

Milk. The sheath of a rope is slipped down over a splice by 'milking' it.

Round turn. A rope's end makes a round turn on something when it passes right around it through 540 degrees to enclose the object and point back parallel to its own standing part.

Serve. Cover over either with tight binding of light twine or, more commonly nowadays, adhesive tape.

Sheath. The outside cover of a plaited 'core and sheath' rope.

Standing part. The main, non-working part of a line.

Stop, to. To lash, seize or tape over temporarily, usually to prevent unlaying.

Strand. Constituent part of rope. First subdivision, eg. three strand laid rope.

Thimble. Plastic or metal shaped eye inserted into spliced eye.

Throat. Point at which two parts of rope re-unite after passing round thimble or forming soft eye.

Tuck, to. Weave ends of strands into laid up rope to make splice.

Unlay, to. Open up and separate strands of laid rope or unravel plaited rope.

Whip, to. Bind rope's end to prevent unlaying.

Whipping. Binding on rope's end preventing unlaying.

Worm. Spiral along groove between strands of laid rope.

Yams. Fibres are twisted together to form yarns, which are in turn used to make up strands forming rope.

| Rope Types and Terms. | Manilla ropes have been largely replaced synthetic types, giving higher strength to weight ratios. Selection of just the right knot for the job is essential and the type and size of rope has a bearing. Synthetics tend to have a smooth surface, some more so than others, and the holding power of knots and splices will be affected accordingly. Remember too, to consider the 'lay' of the rope; many knots and splices require some degree of twist, and laid rope may resist this, buckling or kinking if forced. The rope will cooperate much better if tension is taken out by a half twist at the right time in the knot making process, or when coiling.

The ends of a rope will unravel if not secure. Melting the exposed filaments of synthetic rope will help but not for long if the line is in regular use. A tight whipping is necessary using the correct thickness of whipping twine. There are several variations of whippings but in these notes we will only deal with the most common.

There are many opinions about the range of knots and splices necessary for practical use on small craft. An essential of a nautical knot is that it be easily undone. A recommended list is as follows:-
Click on each for more detail.

• Clove hitch.
• Bowline.
• Single sheet bend.
• Double sheet bend.
• Round turn and two half hitches.
• Rolling hitch.
• Lighterman's hitch.
• Common eye splice.
• Short splice.
• Common whipping.

Wire Ropes.
In the marine rescue field, wire ropes may be encountered as galvanised type in trawler rigging, and in 316 stainless as standing rigging and halyards on yachts. It is important to use heavy duty gloves when handling wire ropes in rescue situations. Wire cutters should be carried on rescue vessels to cut rigging of dismasted yachts.

Construction.
Wire rope used in boating will be described by the lay pattern of the strands, outside diameter, and breaking strain. Indivudal strands are manufactured with preformed twist so that the assembly will have minimal initial stress Common types are :-

• 1 / 19. i.e. 19 strands laid in a twist pattern around a central core wire. A very stiff high strength wire for standing rigging.
• 7 / 7. i.e. seven groups of seven strands laid in a twist pattern. Semi flexible wire, used for standing rigging and outhauls.
• 7 / 19. i.e. seven groups of nineteen strands laid in a twist pattern. A flexible wire used for halyards and outhauls, steering cables.
• Galvanised wire is commonly made in 6 / 19 pattern with a nylon core.

Diagram courtesy of 'Mariners' Diary.

Wire ropes on rigging will have swaged terminations, and eyes can be spliced, swaged , or clamped with rope grips. Thimbles should always be used on eye splices, and rope ends finished with whipping or tape.

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