THE MARLINSPIKE SAILOR, SC

Hervey Garrett Smith was the foremost marine illustrator of the 1950s and 1960s, and his wonderful drawings of traditional ropework quickly propelled The Marlinspike Sailor to cult classic status when it was published in 1956. With the addition of a section on modern, synthetic rope in the 1970s, its popularity has continued undiminished to this day. It teaches a few basic knots--the bowline, sheet bend, and rolling hitch, among others--and splices in three-strand and braided rope. But its real business is decorative rope and canvaswork--the traditional arts of the sailor--and here it has no equal. For a rope mat, a rope ladder, a sea chest, a ditty bag, a canvas bucket, a mast boot, and the best-looking rope fenders or heaving line in the marina, this is the book of choice.

ForewordIntroductionMaking Rope BehaveKnot, Bend, or Hitch?Anyone Can SpliceThe Short SpliceThe Long SpliceThe Stowage of RopeHow to Lay Up a GrommetWhippingsThe Heaving LineSome Notes on SeizingWorming, Parcelling, and ServingThe Running Turk's HeadThe Star KnotThe Tack KnotThe Lanyard KnotMatthew Walker's KnotA Simple Rope MatLadder Mat and Block MatA Russian or Walled MatA Sword MatA Rope Ladder with a New Twist and Some Remarks on the Making of BaggywrinklePlaited SennitsCrown SennitsRope HandlesCoachwhippingGrafting, Pointing and HitchingCockscombingThe Sea ChestDeadeyes and LanyardsDecorative Wall BagTom Crosby's Ditty BoxThe Rigger's Little HelperWooden Bilge PumpsPalm and Needle PracticeThe Ditty BagThe Sea BagThe Bell RopeWooden CleatsRope FendersStropped BlocksCanvas Deck BucketRigging a JacklineSail Stop BagSome Notes on the Use of "Taykles"A Lanyard for a CannonThe Catboat RaceMaking a Mast BootThe Water JugRegistration Numbers, They Too Can Be BeautifulArt and Yacht DesignSynthetic Fibres and Their CharacteristicsBasic Eye SpliceStandard End for EndBack SpliceIndex