Page 239 - Randy Penn Everything Knots Book

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THE EVER YTHING KNOTS BOOK

Many activities that use specific knots and ropes also have their
own methods of rope care and management. For example, those
who use ropes for climbing or rescue usually take great care not
to step on them. Because the rope structure consists of a central
core surrounded by a stiff outer layer, this core can take damage
from a boot heel that will not be noticeable. Also, fishermen store
fishing line away from direct sunlight to protect it from ultraviolet
radiation, which might result in premature line weakness.
Much of the rope work methodology we use today was per-
fected on sailing ships. For centuries, operating a square-rigged
sailing vessel required an army of men plying their craft with rope.
Because their principal tool for working with rope was the mar-
linespike, described in Chapter 7, this craft became known as “mar-
linespike seamanship,” and this term is still used today.

Storing Rope in a Coil

Sometimes it is more challenging to store rope than to use it. The
best way to store rope is by wrapping the entire length into a coil
and tying a part of itself around the coil to keep it secure. When
rope turns into a tangle, it’s annoying, but what’s worse is that it
will get twisted, with very sharp turns or kinks. These can damage
rope fibers, making it much weaker. Coiling rope is also helpful
because rope can be dangerous under foot when loose, especially
on boats.

ESSENTIAL

Twists and kinks can get into many of the items we use. They
can damage electrical cords and often get in the cord
between the phone base and receiver. Sometimes it gets so
kinked that it will not extend to its normal length. To get
these kinks out, just suspend the earpiece by the cable, and
let it spin until the extra twists are out.

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