What Are The Most Common Knots Used Aboard Ship?

Maritime Employment
21

[QUOTE=RubberRhib888;78076]What?! You aren’t allowed to carry a knife? What kind of crap is that? Did I miss the sarcasm Chief?[/QUOTE]

No that is not a joke or sarcasm. Knives are illegal on all the rigs, and most any where the big oil companies have a safety policy that they can enforce on you. We are allowed to have safety scissors or a safety razor knive, but it has to be self closing, so that as soon as you take your finger off the button, it pulls the blade backwards into the knive. Also the safety razor knives have to be painted bright safety orange, and have a lanyard, that you can wrap around your wrist, so you don’t drop it either. We are not allowed to use the word dykes any more either, they are now alternative life style cutting devices. Also don’t get caught running up or down the stairs that will get you on a chopper quick as well. I had a third get fired a few months ago because he would put his hands on the hand rails and slide down the stairs, well the company man caught him one day, so he got to go home early.

22

Thanks Chief. Good stuff to be aware of. I am guilty of using the word dykes, sliding down the rails, and carrying a knife…my ass would have been canned with the quickness! I actually still carry an 8 inch marline spike on my belt as well. That spike comes in handy, especially working on a wire boat.

23

I think the Rolling Hitch is very likely the most important.
Not the most used, but when it is, your life probably depends on it.
Many, many hands just don’t get it.

I watched our captain tie it exactly the same way three times in a row recently, slipped each time.
Luckily it wasn’t a critical situation.
Of course, he blamed the poly line.
After he left the deck, we tied it correctly and got the job done.

Working with rope and line is a skill that constantly needs to be practiced and sharpened.
There is no doubt the captain “used” to know the correct way to tie a Rolling Hitch,
but after years in the wheelhouse, he forgot.

24

Wrong assumption. Regardless of rank, seamanship is not assured by position. Even though some assume so.

25

For me personally, I would have to say the most often used are: bowline, clove hitch, round turn & 2 half hitches, carrick bend, single & double becket bends.

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[QUOTE=cappy208;78143]Wrong assumption. Regardless of rank, seamanship is not assured by position. Even though some assume so.[/QUOTE]

That was my point.

That’s why it was preceded by:
“Working with rope and line is a skill that constantly needs to be practiced and sharpened.”

27

The knot I find the most, is the one I get in my stomach, every time a new Mate takes the helm…LOL

28

Take a breather from ball breaking Cap. You’re gonna give yourself an ulser.

29

Take a breather from ball breaking Cap, you’re going to give yourself an ulser.

30

Not ball breaking. It is a fact. Just because some either choose to be or are ignorant of the facts does not make it wrong.

The post asked a good question. But instead of telling the guy a dozen knots you really only need to know 2 or 3. But IMHO it is more important to know how knots work. How they bind. How they free up.

Someone made a joke about knife knots. Those are perfect examples of improperly tied knots! .

31

Most of what has been referred to as “knots” in this thread are hitches with a couple bends thrown in the mix. Just an observation.

32

Exactly! I rarely find someone that actually understands this part of knot tying.

33

The difference between knowing this and assuming it is known is what separates the PROFESSIONAL Deckhand from the ORDINARY Deckhand. The title Able Body used to mean something.

Unfortunately if I dare point out such differences I am roundly criticised as being too hard on the help. Then when I do get a professional Deckhand I am accused of favoritism. Go figure.

34

How long did you sail as a deckhand before you advanced?

35

That’s a tough question. I grew up on sailboats and yachts around marinas since I was old enough to swim. I have been working on commercial vessels since I was 11. I shipped out on SIU tugs starting in 1981 when I was 18. I got my A.B. ticket (special) in 18 months. ( when I had 9 months seatime at 12 hour days) I got my license at 23 and was mate the next trip. I was a sea mate for three years, and graduated to a full Mate when I was 26. I got my first masters position ( in commercial towing.) At 32. And been there ever since. I am the one my crew comes to when they need direction. Not because I am the Master. But because I have either seen it, or most likely done it. No. I don’t have to ‘do it’ anymore. But I will show others. But woe unto the lazy ass who keeps asking me to ‘show him’ again. And again. And again!

36

There is a difference between the most common knots seen on a ship, the ones you need to know to pass the AB exam, and the best or handiest knots to know.
Here are a few that will help you work smarter, not harder if you know when and where to use them. And the ones I use most often.

TRUCKER HITCH - For bundling pipe or rods, etc. lashing down tarps and cargo. You gain mechanical advantage.

ROLLING HITCH - Better than a clove hitch when tying something that will come under strong tension, or suspending. It’s adjustable, use multiple turns. Examples are tying up a cargo hose TO a rail, or adjusting tires/fenders over a rail. A Clove can bind so tight you can’t get it undone!

TIMBER HITCH - For pulling pipe or something similar out of a hatch or hole (with extra Half Hitch to hold it vertical), and tying a TO cargo hose FROM a rail (tie the Timber Hitch to hose first, then adjust height with the Rolling Hitch on the rail). For lateral pull and tension and won’t slip.

HEAVING LINES - Avoid this embarrassment when everybody on the ship is looking at you!
Coil your heaving lines like a cowboy coils his lariat/lasso. There is a reason cowboys do this! DO NOT “bundle” them “army-style” or else the next time you throw it, it will tangle and want to figure-8! (This annoys me endlessly! So I make up a personal heaving line that only I use)
Use a bowline with a slip to haul heavy hawsers aboard with the heaving line, then you can quickly move it out of the way so it doesn’t get pinched when you drop the eye on the bitt, or else you’ll have to cut it loose if it goes under tension.

~When lashing down, when possible put a full round turn on the object you are lashing down. It adds lateral stability. Instead of this, "/ " you have this “/O” .

~Know how to tie a pilot ladder to the deck properly. (A series of half hitches in the SAME direction)

~Know how to eye-splice and end splice. (…and take that tape off the strands when you are finished. Don’t worry about the fuzzy fray, it keeps the splice from slipping and adds a bit of chafing gear to the eye)

~Cinch up knots by “whipping or snapping” the line, not buy pulling in it. then it gets tied tight by you putting a SHOCK load on it, not a STATIC load on it. Use physics to your advantage and not having to “muscle” it tight.

~*Style points for tying a TUGBOAT BOWLINE in under one second, being able to lasso a bitt, and knowing how to tie a HANDCUFF KNOT, and other fancy knotwork. I.E. Turkshead knot bracelet, holy cross necklace, monkeys fist keychain fob, bloodknots on the ties of your hoodie…

Cheers!

37

[QUOTE=seadog!;78135]I think the Rolling Hitch is very likely the most important.
Not the most used, but when it is, your life probably depends on it.
Many, many hands just don’t get it.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I use rolling hitch alot! the only way to tie fenders/tires from the railing! you can lower/raise the fender with one hand, and slip the line with the other. When you have the fender where you want it, do the final tuck.

38

Are any of the boats using the high strength 12 strand rope like Spectra or Dyneema?

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Many vessels are using newer high strength rope technology. I have seen quite a few towing companies that have replaced a portion of their face wires on their tugs and towboats with Spectra to make them safer and easier to handle. That is all you will find on the working drums on newer high HP tractor tugs. I have used them on hopped dredges where we had to tie up in a situation with a minimum number of lines.

40

Most all new ATBs are using plasma or spectra of one company or brand on wire mooring winches.