Animated Knots and Marlinspike Sailors

November 13, 2008 · Filed Under Lore of the Sea, Rigging 

For those wishing to learn just a bit about sailor’s knots, Animated Boating Knots by Grog is a lot of fun.  Here is a rolling hitch, a marvelously useful knot that I invariably forget how to tie whenever a need one.   If you need to climb a halyard,  tie a warping line to an anchor rode, or take the load off a sheet fouled on a winch, there is nothing like it.  And even if you don’t need to do any of these things it is still a very nice knot to know.  After all, what’s knot to like?  Sorry.

“Rope is probably the most remarkable product known to mankind”.  So reads the opening sentence of the  classic - The Marlinspike Sailor by Hervey Garret Smith.   It was first published in 1956 based on a series of articles in Rudder magazine in the 50’s.   Hervey Garret Smith was one of the best maritime artists of his day as well as one of the founders and the first director of the Long Island Maritime Museum.  What makes the book so amazing is that between his wondering drawings and his detailed instructions even a fumble-fingered lubber can turn out some beautiful rope work with a bit of patience.

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