Page 97 - The Ashley Book of Knots

fHE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

SJ4 534. The MONKEY'S TAIL is a permanent or semipermanent stopper

that is put in the bight as well as the end. It is also called SINGLE

THROAT SEIZING, SEIZED ROUND TURN, CLINCH, and PIGTAIL. It is

found, about ten feet from the ends, in running rigging. The purpose

is to prevent unreeving at the racks or fair-leaders, which are seized

in the shrouds seven or eight feet above deck. A small round turn is

first taken, and a THROAT SEIZING (fit 3404), in length about a quaner

of the round of the clinch, is put in.

The MONKEY'S TAIL is preferred for the purpose just described

because it does less damage to rope than any knot. When the MON-

KEY'S TAIL fetches against the rack the seizing takes the burden.

535. The NORFOLK-~WASHINGTON BOAT HEAVING LINE KNOT.

The HEAVING LINE KNOT is the least standardized of aU knots. Every

ferry boat and excursion steamer has its own version or interpreta-

tion. The purpose of the knot is to carry a light line ashore, by means

of which hawsers are passed to the wharf. If the hawsers are very

long and heavy, occasionally there is an intermediate line to be hauled

first, which is larger than the heaving line, but smaller than the

hawser.

The knot should be bulky enough to be plainly seen and heavy

enough to carry the end of the heaving line well in advance of the

coil when it is tossed, but it should not be heavy enough or hard

enough to injure the wharf rat who catches it. Many knot tiers

"load" their knots with sheet lead, lead foil, tinfoil "marbles," shot,

or round stones. But there is a definite sponing limit to the weight

that is considered good form.

The sample given here is about the simplest form of the knot. Two

layers of sheet lead are wound around the standing part of the rope,

and this is covered by the series of turns. The turns are hove taut and

the end finished off with an OVERHAND KNOT (#515) or the end may

537 be taken back to the standing part and spliced into it (see right~hand

illustration).

536. The HEAVING LINE LANYARD. The best way to rig a heaving

line is with a Ian ard. The lanyard should be larger than the heaving

line and about our feet long. It is spliced into the bosom of the

hawser eye, being tucked whole, three times, over and under

(fit 283 I ). The other end of the lanyard has an EYE SPLICE to which

the heaving line is bent with a BECKET HITCH. If the heaving line is

bent directly to the hawser it is difficult to unbend it after the hawser

eye is around a pile.

537. The HEAVING LINE KNOT is exposed to excessive wear, and

the best practice is to side-splice the end into the neck of the knot

(~2826) as the splice will hold the turns in place much better than

a knot. The turns are put on as snugly as possible.

538. This particular HEAVING LINE KNOT is based on the well-

known HANGMAN'S KNOT, and is perhaps the most common of all.

The number of turns taken is optional, depending somewhat on the

size of the ship.

539. MARTHA'S VINEYARD BOAT HEAVING LINE KNOT: Start with

three round turns. Pass the end around the top turns and under its

own part, and wind or round back snugly the full length of the knot.

I At the bottom, stick the end through the three original turns. Then,

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