Page 163 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

BAS IC SEAMAN SHIP 169

Wet fiber lines should be dried thorough I)' before stowing. If
this canllot be done, the line should be faked out on gmtings under
cover so it can dryas quickly as possible. All fiber lines shrink when
wet and stretch again when dried out. for this reason, wet lines in
use should be slackened when the weather becomes damp or lines
become wet with rain.
A line with a kink should ne\'er be placed under strnin. A heavy
strain on a kinked or twisted line will cause permnllent distortion
or damnge, seriously wenkening the line. \Vhen n kink has been
forced into each strand, it is impossible to work it out.
Line will weaken with use ilnd exposure. Nylon line will grad-
unlly change its color from yellowish-white to gra}'. It is necessary
to inspect the inner pilrt of il line to determine its real condi-
Flemishing down a line. The bitter end is in the center.
tioIl, though. The strands are unlnid either b)' hnnd or with a fid.
a pointed, round, tapered wooden tool designed for splicing fiber
A permanent whipping is put all with a palm and needle. A
lines. If weakened, the yarns will show bristles nnd n decrease in
pnllll is a tough piece of leather th,lt fits into the palm of the sea-
diameter. Lines in such wenkened conditioIl should not be llsed
man's hand, serving somewhat the same purpose as a thimble.
and certainly never for supporting people aloft or over the side.
This is rarely done to line or rope smalier than I J/.i inches, but nor-
mally is done with larger lines.
The bitter end of a Ilrlon line is usually secured by taping the
end of each strand and then taping all strands together and fusing
the end of the line with a hot iron or torch. The heat will melt and
fuse the line together.
t\ good rule to remember with an)' line is that nil loose ends
mllst be whipped, Cllt, or tucked in order for the ship to maintain
>00\.0 T><f lU~><O II' _11 M
a smart, shipshape appeanlIlce. Attention to such detnil is impor- "10(,(. U<O '_I Iff(*(
,OU'Vl.l 0111 T>« 110
tant; the ship that takes care of such details usually performs well
Using a tid to separate and splice lines.
Natural fiber lille under heavy strnin will make crnckillg noises
as the strands work against the strain. \Vhen such noises increase
in intensity, this is a warning thnt the line may pnrt. A visible sign
of slich strain will appenr in the form of a steamlike vapor over a
wenkening area if the line is wet. Nylon may not emit such noises
unless agitinst il cleat or bitt, but will stretch ::md eject the steamlike
vnpor. Natural fiber line will stretch very little, cven under heavy
strnin. It \\'ill iose about 30 percent of its strength over n two-year
period with normal careful lise.

Knots, Bends, and Hitches

The term "knot" is often used ns an all-inclusive term, but expe-
rienced seamen distinguish between knots, bends, nnd hitches.
KIIDls nre used to form eyes (loops) or to secure n cord or line
nroulld nn objeci stich ns n pnckage. Generally they nre intended to
be permanenl, so they nre hard to untie: Hitches are used to I~lsten
n line to or around an object such as a rillg or stanchion (il metill
or wooden pole) or another piece of line. Bends arc used 10 secure
lines together.
Whipping lines. The bitter end of a line should always be whipped
l\'losl Navy Illen <lnd women are expected to know how to tie
(wrapped) to prevent it from unlaying. Whipping is done with a palm
and needle. the square knot, bowline, Hnd single <lnd double becket bends, and