Printable View
Dock handler throws knot to secure boat.
<video controls autoplay loop>
<source src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hmt-forum/dock_handler_tieing_knot.mp4" type="video/mp4">
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>
Previously:
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...573#post139468
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...2791#post97149
A boat that I was on had an old First Mate named Mr. Saint, a distinguished looking fella with a white beard who reminded me of Sean Connery and he had a 6' length of flexible line that he used to perform rope tricks. He would lay coils of the line on each forearm in certain patterns and then throw them up into the air and with a flourish of both hands and arms the rope would come down with whatever knot he had previously called in it. He had a repertoire of many knots that he tied this way and it was fascinating to watch.
Whenever we put into Galveston, we would all rush to the Bon Ton, the closest bar to the docks, and swill expensive Bud until sailing time. Mr. Saint would leave the docks in a cab shortly after, all spruced up in slacks, a blazer, and a turtleneck, to return in a cab before we sailed. One of the guys got curious enough about his excursions and followed him in another cab to find out what he was doing. What he found was that Mr. Saint was going to the largest hotel on the island and riding the elevators up and down until he found a woman that was ready for some action. While the rest of us were getting stupid on overpriced Bud, Mr. Saint was in a hotel room getting his bollard polished. He was a sly old sea dog.
[QUOTE=Crusty;141628]A boat that I was on had an old First Mate named Mr. Saint, a distinguished looking fella with a white beard who reminded me of Sean Connery and he had a 6' length of flexible line that he used to perform rope tricks.
I like it when the reply is better than the original post.
I've been waiting probably better than 30 years for an opportunity to tell that story. Glad you liked it.
Another one.
<video controls autoplay loop>
<source src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hmt-forum/dock_hand_flipping_tethering_rope.mp4" type="video/mp4">
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>
My wife needs to watch this ...
One time while on a barge being pushed by a tug, the captain decided to let us off at a public boat dock at the end of the day (as in like 01:00). He gently pushed the barge up against the boat ramp next to the dock. To be legally "docked" so he could take a break, he had the mate "tie up" to the dock. So, a large line inches in diameter was dropped from the barge down 6 or so feet to the dock and looped around a cleat like in the above video. There! Legally tied to the dock!
Wish I'd thought to take a picture, it just looked so silly.
Oh, the harbormaster asked the captain if he was worried about getting the barge stuck. When the captain stopped laughing he said this tug had been used to drag a large Navy ship off a sand bar not long ago, a little barge wasn't going to be any problem.
<video controls autoplay loop>
<source src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hmt-forum/dock_tieoff_rope_trick.mp4" type="video/mp4">
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>
Been doing it all of his life.
You should see him tie his shoes!
It’s actually not too hard, once you learn how. But that’s true of everything.
I taught watersking my Freshman college summer. We eventually got good at doing this working at it every day when tying up the boats.
It's all Bos'un Mate 101. . . Probably started two days after the first historic cleat was mounted on a dock. It's not hard with braided line, twist line not so well behaved, but we're spoiled now.
The gif's depict day sailors, pitching line to snare a cleat was imperative when freeboard and gunwales were 20' above the dock.
I can see how they get the wrap but how do they get the hitch? Just flicking their wrist differently?
Ralph
Had to describe via text, but not much different than drawing a figure in the air, with just bare friction paying out line then clamping a bit to halt. A little flick creates the hitch, another settles it on the cleat.
80% of boat owners do it two handed and twist the hitch under; on a 30'er your fingers will just get sore if caught inside. A real vessel or something really pitching and/or rolling, you'll wind up with a nickname.
Stubby or stumpy comes to mindQuote:
Originally Posted by Toolmaker51