Marlinspike Seamanship and Knots Flashcards

A 'rolling hitch' is most useful when you need to:

Answer: Attach a line to another line under load so it won't slide

The rolling hitch grips a loaded spar or line and resists sliding in one direction, making it ideal for relieving tension on another line.

Polyester (Dacron) line is preferred over nylon for running rigging because it:

Answer: Has very low stretch, maintaining precise sail trim

Polyester's minimal stretch keeps running rigging responsive and prevents sails from losing shape when loads change.

When a fiber rope has been overloaded beyond its elastic limit, the correct action is to:

Answer: Remove it from service and inspect or replace it

Overloading permanently damages fiber alignment and internal structure, so the rope should be retired from critical use.

Which hitch is best used to temporarily attach a line to a spar or rail for hoisting, where the pull is in-line with the spar?

Answer: Timber hitch

The timber hitch (and a half hitch forward) wraps around and grips a spar under in-line tension, tightening as load increases.

The term 'lay' of a rope refers to:

Answer: The direction and pitch of the twist of the strands

Lay describes whether strands are twisted right-handed (clockwise) or left-handed (counter-clockwise), and the tightness of that twist.

A 'back splice' is used to:

Answer: Permanently finish and prevent unlaying of a rope's end

A back splice turns the strands back into the rope in a crown knot start, preventing the end from unraveling without adding much bulk.

What does 'surging' a line on a capstan or winch mean?

Answer: Allowing the line to slip in a controlled manner to ease tension

Surging is deliberately letting a line slip around a capstan drum to gradually reduce tension without removing the line entirely.