USE, TYPES AND CARE OF LINES

Few items on a boat are more useful than lines. Lines are used to moor the boat, hold it in place when anchoring or to pull the kids in the tube. Having a good selection of properly cared for lines is essential for all recreational boaters.

Lines come in a variety of material, thickness and length and serve three (3) main functions:

• Holding – mooring a boat to a dock or anchoring.
• Pulling – skiing and tubing.
• Lifting – lifting equipment from a boat up onto a dock.

Common types of lines - benefits and drawbacks:

• Natural fiber rope – quickly rots if exposed to moisture for an extended length of time. Keep dry and out of direct sunlight.
• Synthetic rope – nylon line comes in three-strand and double-braided. Three-strand is easy to make eye splices in for mooring or tow lines. Polypropylene floats and is commonly used for skiing and tubing.

Parts of a line

• Bitter End – the very end of the line.
• Standing Part – the area between the two bitter ends, or between the bitter end and the working part.
• Working Part – the part that is around a cleat, railing, etc.
• Eye – a man made loop in the end of a line or a natural loop that occurs when line is coiled.
• Bite of an Eye – an area of the line that has looped around itself. NEVER place your foot or hand into the “bite” of an eye!

Line safety

• When “paying out” line (as when letting out line to a skier), make sure the line does not chafe on sharp objects and that it pays out smoothly. If the line begins to pay out rapidly, let go of the line.
• Be careful of rings and watches as they may be caught on the line.
• Know that any knot (including eye splices) in a line reduces the breaking strength of the line by 10%.
• Too much strain on a line may cause it to “part” (break). The snap-back effect can cause serious injury.

Knots

Square Knot – two overhand knots used to join two lines of equal size 

Cow Hitch – simple hitch used to secure the line to a railing or cylindrical structure.

Bowline – universal bend used to make a temporary eye in the end of a line.

Securing a line to a cleat – it is recommended to make one complete round turn around the base of the cleat and then make at least 3 figure eights. A locking hitch may be used to complete the process.

Lines vs. Ropes

The salty sailor will tell you there are only seven “ropes” used on board a ship and that anything else is referred to as line. The seven ropes all have names and a specific purpose.  The seven ropes are: Foot, Bolt, Bucket, Bell, Tow, Head, and Becket.