| The nautical term Marlinespike comes from the name given to a sharply pointed, iron pin that is used to splice line. The word is also used today to describe knots and bends used in nautical applications. Every boater should know basic Marlinespike, including the reef or square knot, the clove hitch, the bowline (pronounced bo-lun), the cleat hitch, the sheet or becket bend, and other basic knots and bends. It's not necessary for the recreational boater to know how to tie a bowline with one hand, or to splice a line, or to weave a monkeyfist. But basic knowledge of Marlinespike will make your job of skipper, mate, or deckhand easier, and you'll look like a skilled boater on the water and at the dock. |
In commenting about his "love of rope" as a boy and into manhood, Lt/C Barry Briggs, S, of the Durham (NC) Power Squadron wrote this ditty, which was published in the August 1999 edition of the National Power Squadron magazine, Ensign. With permission of its author, I give you...
As I cast off for that very first time,
The "rope" in my hand has now become "line".
And hauling the sails to the top of the mast,
That "rope", now a "halyard" holds strong, taught and fast.
Then sailing in brisk winds full force on a beat.
The sails are trimmed in by that "rope" that's a "sheet".
And now at my anchorage with sails safely stowed,
I trust in that "rope" that now serves as a "rode".
Through all my life I will never lose hope,
Of a reason or time to play with a rope.
 The Clove Hitch |
 The Bowline |
 The Sheet Bend |
 The Square or Reef Knot |
If you master these four knots, you'll be way ahead of most recreational boaters in your knowledge of marlinespike.
A "Bit" About Lines....
There are many materials used today to make line (ropes are on shore, line is afloat). The most popular is nylon. It is strong, holds up well to the weather and stress, and coils nicely without too much kinking. Line is also made from natural fibers like cotton and hemp (manila), and other synthetic fibers such as dacron, kevlar, spectra, technora, and polypropylene. Nylon three strand is the preferred line for docklines, since it stretches sufficiently to dampen the sharp shocks of wave action and wind against your cleats. Dacron doesn't stretch as much, and is used for sailboat running rigging and other applications where you don't want stretch to interfere with your sets. The big advantage of polypropylene line is that it floats. Therefore, it is appropriate for ski lines or other applications where you want to be able to see the line on top of the water.
Line is constructed in two basic ways, although there are variations on the theme. The first is "3 strand" line.
The other construction type is braided line.
Whichever lines you choose to use, make sure they are kept out of the sun when not in use, clean, unfrayed, and coiled neatly. Don't leave knots in a stowed line for long periods of time. Protect the line from chaffing. And unlike the American flag, which you may have learned from childhood is to be flown until it is too worn or soiled to be displayed, boat lines need to be replaced at the first sign of wear.
There are really two kinds of dock lines...those you leave on
your dock at your home slip to secure your vessel when you "put baby
to bed", and those that you take with you for mooring as a transient at
somebody else's slip, like a public landing, a marina or marine basin, the yacht club,
or a friend's boat. We'll talk here about the lines you take with you,
as opposed to the lines you leave at home.
You should carry at least six lines with you at all times for safely mooring
your boat. Two bow lines, two stern lines, and two spring lines. Each line should be 10% longer than
your boat, so if your boat is
20 feet long, your lines should be at least 22 feet in length, measured
from the eye to the bitter end. If you think that's not possible, then
at least make sure that two of them are that long...the ones you intend
to use as spring lines. (Of course, there is an advantage to having
all six lines the same length...you won't have to try and sort them
out when needed to find the right length line.)
When selecting the size line for your dock lines, consider the size of
your boat and the size of your cleats. Cleats should measure one inch
in length (tip to tip) for each 1/16 inch of line diameter. So, if
you want to use a 1/2 inch diameter line, your cleats should be at least
8 inches long. Here's a chart with suggested line sizes by boat size,
published by West Marine®.
| Boat Length | 0-27' | 28-36' | 37-45' | 46-54' |
| Line Diameter | 3/8" | 7/16" | 1/2" | 5/8" |
For purposes of transient docking, nylon line is generally preferred material. Nylon line is generally constructed in three-strand twisted, or braided. Three-strand is less expensive, size for size has more stretch (a desirable characteristic to absorb the shock of wave action on the cleats), but is rougher on the hands. Braided line, conversely, has a tendency to "snag" more easily of rough surfaces, and therefore generally has a shorter life when used as dock lines.
Each transient line should have an eye spice on one end. The eye should be large enough to slip easily over the size piling you expect to encounter. If you're going to do the splicing yourself, you'll need to practice a bit, and may find that splicing stranded line is a lot easier than double-braided.
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