Military Science: Marlinspike Seamanship

Military Science 2 Chapter 3

• Marlinspike
• Knots, Bends, and Hitches
• Deck Seamanship
• Painting

Marlinspike Seamanship

• Marlinspike Seamanship involves handling and working with fiber and wire rope, including knotting, splicing, serving, and fancy work
• Lines are used for mooring, docking, rigging and painting
• Wire Rope is typically used for supply replenishment and highline transfers

Rope

• Rope is made from wire, fiber, or a combination of both materials
• Fiber rope, also known as line, is made from natural or synthetic fibers
• Sailors refer to fiber rope as line and wire rope as rope or wire
• A line is a piece of rope, either fiber or synthetic, used for a specific purpose, like a lifeline, heaving line, or lead line

Construction of Line

• Navy lines: three-strand, braided, or plaited construction
• Three-strand line is made by twisting fibers into yarns, yarns into strands, and strands back into line
• Lines are twisted into cable in the Navy
• Line's lay is determined by direction strands are twisted
• Lines twisted to the right are right-laid

Use and care of Line

• Coil right-laid line right-handed or clockwise and that braided and plaited line should be flaked
• Lines should be kept separate from stays, guys, and standing rigging
• Surging lines around bitts, take off enough turns for smooth surge
• Splice chafed/damaged lines, after cutting, do not cut a line without permission
• Do not lubricate lines
• Whip all line ends for care
• Fiber line is subject to frequent inspection of the fibers and internal wear.
• Lines dragged over sharp or rough objects will break outer layers and cause the inner layers to cut.
• Atmospheric exposure will deteriorate lines, up to 30% in 2 years.
• If you discover a supply of lines that are 3 years old, they should be returned noting its uneconomical state.

Small Stuff

• Line with a circumference of 1 1/2 inches or less is considered small stuff or threads
• Round line is three-strand, right-laid tarred hemp and it is used for seizing and servings where neatness is required.
• Sail twine is small stuff laid up right-handed by machine and is used when a fancier job is desired like a marline
• Cod line is a light, white line used decoratively and previously used in hammock clews for suspending a hammock.

Securing Ends

• Never leave a line end dangling loosely without whipping to prevent unlaying. Fraying happens on its own
• Use temporary plain whipping of rope as a preventative measure

Knots

• Bowline knot is versatile and made for loops as they are required
• Naval Seamen use knots to bend lines back to themselves forming secured eyes or knobs

Bending to a Hook, Ring, or Spar

• Hitches can secure a line to a hook, ring, or spar
• A hitch differs from a knot when tied to a ring, spar, stanchion, or another line but not tied back on itself to create an eye or bend two lines.

Eye Splice

• Eye splice with manila or synthetic lines requires untwisting the line's strands anywhere from 4 inches to 2 feet
• Then splice into the standing part by tucking unlaid strands from the end into the standing part

Short Splice

• Short splices join lines when an enlarged diameter isn't critical as when constructing slings using short spliced lines

Four Classes of Knots

• Class 1 Knots: Knots in the end lines, fastening a line upon itself or around an object -Overhand Knot -Bowline -Running bowline -Bowline on a bight -French Bowline -Spanish bowline -Sheepshank -Cats Paw -Figure Eight -Black Wall Hitch

• Class 2 Knots: Knots for binding two lines together -Square or reef knot -Granny knot -Sheet or becket bend (single) -Sheet or becket bend (double) -Two bowlines -Carrick Bend -Reeving line bend

• Class 3 Knots: Knots that secure a line to a ring or spar (hitches or bends) -Fisherman's Bend -Tolling hitch -Round Turn and Two Half Hitches -Clove or Ratline Hitch -Half hitch or two half hitch -Stopper hitch -Cats paw

• Class 4 Knots: Knots used to give finished to the end of a line and to prevent unreeling or for ornamental purposes -Wall knot -Crown knot -Manrope -Mathew Walker

Wire Rope

• Wire rope's fundamental component is a single wire made of steel or other metals in varying sizes twisted into strands.
• Strands in a wire will vary based on the purpose of rope
• Strands are laid to form the rope itself
• The denomination of rope is designated based on stands numbers on the rope over the number of wires on the strand.
• Diameter consistency is shared between 6 X 19 and 6 X 37 wiring
• Wire rope is made out of annealed steal, traction steal, or improved plow steal that is treated with either plain or galvanized.

Deck Seamanship

• Rigging is a significant part of deck seamanship, ship's standing rigging consisting of lines, wires, turnbuckles, and gear supporting the stacks, masts, and topside structure.
• Running rigging uses rigging to hoist/lower heavy weights or position/operate movable deck gear.

Ground Tackles

• Ground tackles consist of equipment used to moor and anchor, the list of tackle equipment is as follows: -Anchor chain, wire rope, synthetic line -Connecting/Detaching shackles/links -Pear-shaped links -End links -Bending shackles, mooring shackles, mooring swivels, detachable-link tool sets -Clear hawse pendants, dip ropes, chain stoppers, wrenches for chain stoppers, outboard swivel shots -Chain cable jacks, mooring hooks, chain hooks, and anchor bars

Types of Anchors

• Types include: stockless lightweight or stock-incrown, and two-fluke balanced-fluke anchors
• Stock anchors and mushroom anchors are no longer specified for Navy ships

Stockless Anchor

• Three designs of stockless anchors are used on naval ships: commercial, standard Navy, and the Mark 2.

Lightweight Anchor

• The Mk 2 LWT and wedge block LWT anchor are two types of lightweight anchors for Navy ships

Two-Fluke Balanced-Fluke Anchor

• Two-fluke balanced-fluke anchors are found on newer submarines and surface vessels as they are normally housed at the bottom of the ship
• Additionally its bower anchor is in place for its anti-interference with ships sonar dome.

Stock Anchor

• Stock anchors have been abandoned by merchant and Navy ships for being difficult to stow.

Mushroom Anchor

• Mushroom anchors resemble a mushroom with a long, narrow stem resembling a shank

Chain and Appendages

• Navy anchor chain of the flash butt welded type is standard for new ship constructions
• It replaces die-lock chain as required for back fit an made of several common links
• Variety of equipment and fittings provide anchor chain maintenance

Chain and Appendages (cont.)

• Detachable Links
• Chain Swivels
• Chain Stopper
• Mooring Shackle
• Mooring Swivels
• Clear Hawse Pendants

Anchor Windlass

• Windlasses are used to handle/secure the anchor, chain and for towing

Deck Fittings

• Deck fittings are devices attached to the hull and assist in the handling and securing the ship.

Painting Navy ships to protect surfaces

• Protects metal surfaces
• Paints and varnishes decorate surfaces
• Good paint is required to fight rust properly on metal surfaces

Preparing Surfaces for Painting

• The most expensive paint is useless without an excellent foundation
• Surfaces should be cleared, with no loose paint and fully prepared steel
• Remove all scale, grease, rust and/or moisture to prevent covered rust
• Steel treatments and coats very depending on steel plating

Tools for Removing Rust and Old Paint

• Scraper
• Wire Brush
• Sand Paper
• Chipping Hammer
• Scaling Hammer (Jitterbug)
• Rotary Power Brush
• Power Sander
• Rotary Chipping Tool
• Blow Torch

Application of Paint for Brush

• Handle brushes near the handle, keep hands clean of leads, or small cuts
• Angle right to the surface starting the return stroke
• Only partially fill brushes for the end bristles to contact the surface. Dont overcharge brushes on usage
• Make long, parallel strokes with wood grain direction
• For vertical surfaces layout vertically.
• For overhead surfaces, ceiling panels should be laid off fore and aft and the beams athwartships and keep paint well-mixed
• Thin coatings is best to obtain good results

Types of Paint Brushes and Uses

-Flat Paint Brush - large surface -Oval Sash and Trim Brush - small surface -Fitch Brush - small and small surfaces -Oval Varnish Brush - rough -Flat Varnish Brush - medium work -French Bristle Brush - high grade work -Lettering Brush -small surface & large work -Painter Duster- cleaning work

Care of Brushes

• Before using, rinse brushes with paint thinner and soak in boiled oil for 48 hours to make them flexible/easy to clean, containerize short-term storage, or distortions may occur.

Care of Brushes After Use

-The bristles must not touch the bottom as they get distorted eventually. -Brushes must be cleaned to prepared for their next deployment -Hang Brushes to dry or wrapped in wax to use at a later time -Do not soak brushes as the bristles will eventually come apart

Proper Cleaners for Brushes with Different Finishes

-Oil-based paints and varnishes -Water-based paint -Shellac -Lacquer -Enamel paint =turpentine or mineral spirits. =water =alcohol =lacquer =paint thinner

Painting Safety precautions

• Complete ventilation of the compartment to ensure immediate removal of vapors and paint dusts.
• Wear clothing that fits smartly to prevent the user from dusts and particles.
• Approved respirator for protection by covering skin with petroleum.
• Smoking, open flames, welding, grounding of spray equipments, chipping, and other spark-producing operations are prohibited in the compartment to lower any chance of ignition.
• Use explosion proof portable lights.
• Bulbs must not be replaced until the ship is completely ventilated.
• Approach old vented areas with caution.
• Avoid direct contact of varnish as cuts can become harmed
• Be wary in confined spaces
• Use cold water for irritation, and consult the medical officer
• Use hand soap on skin to avoid being poisoned by turpentine/spirits