Knots, Bends, and Hitches

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 1 §1.1

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 1 §1.1 — Marlinespike Seamanship Marlinespike seamanship encompasses the use, care, and maintenance of all rope, fibre line, wire rope, and synthetic line aboard ship. Modern small-vessel operations use predominantly nylon and polypropylene synthetic lines, with wire rope reserved for standing rigging and heavy-load shipboard applications.

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 1 §1.2

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 1 §1.2 — Marlinespike Seamanship Nylon is the most common dock and anchor line — high strength, excellent shock absorption, and resistance to mildew. Its primary weakness is loss of strength when wet (~10–15%) and stretching under load. Polypropylene floats but has lower strength and breaks down under UV exposure.

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 1 §1.3

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 1 §1.3 — Marlinespike Seamanship The eight basic knots every mariner should know are: bowline, clove hitch, cleat hitch, sheet bend, square knot, figure-eight, rolling hitch, and anchor bend. Knots are tied for ease of inspection and untying after load; splices are stronger and permanent.

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.1

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.1 — Mooring and Anchoring Standard mooring lines are: bow line (forward), stern line (aft), forward spring (running aft from the bow), after spring (running forward from the stern), and breast lines (perpendicular to the dock at the beam).

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.3

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.3 — Mooring and Anchoring Common anchor types: Danforth (lightweight, high holding power in sand and mud, poor in rocks); plough (CQR, Delta — good general-purpose, harder to stow); Bruce (claw — good in weeds); mushroom (permanent moorings); fluke (small craft).

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 3 §3.1

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 3 §3.1 — Towing Towing astern uses a tow line connected to the towing vessel's stern and the towed vessel's bow. The catenary (sag) of the tow line absorbs shock loads; longer tow lines increase shock absorption but reduce manoeuvrability.