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stem of boat            Grommet and Painter
                                                         For painters that go to a ring or a hole in the boat’s
                                                         stem, the usual practice is to splice an eye through
                                                         the ring or hole. But this means that the painter can-
                                  grommet through stem   not be removed for other purposes without cutting
                                                         off the splice. So instead, make a grommet through
                                   Ring Hitch            the hole (see Chapter 6, Figure 6-43), then Ring-
                                                         Hitch the spliced painter to that (Figure 12-3).
                                   eyesplice
                                                         Alternatively, install a soft shackle, and secure it to
                                         painter         an eyesplice on the end of the painter.

                                                         Towing Bridle
                                                         When towing large rowing craft, particularly in a
             Figure 12-3. A removable painter.           chop, the painter can put an excessive strain on
                                                         the stem. For this situation, make a bridle that
                                                         runs from a forward oarlock, out through the
             more stakes in right behind, then two more a little  painter grommet in a bight, then back to an oar-
             farther back.                               lock on the other side (Figure 12-4). This distrib-
                Lash the back stakes to the middle ones, and  utes the strain over more of the hull. Seize, knot,
             then lash the middle ones to the front ones. Working  or Brummel the eye at the middle of the painter, so
             in this order will help assure that the load will be  it will hold even if one side of the bridle pulls out
             more evenly shared among the stakes.        or chafes through.
                If you have spare stakes, no harm in driving
             four or five sets. But beyond that you’re probably  Diagonal Towing
             better off setting up an entirely separate additional  In light airs, a dinghy towed astern will often “run
             anchor.                                     up” on its tow and smack it in the transom, due
                                                         to wave action. To prevent this, lead the painter

                   DINGHIES AND TENDERS                  Figure 12-4. Strain distribution.

             Protect your dinghies and tenders with a removable   oarlock              thimble eye
             painter, distribute strain and save your transom.                 seizing

             Painter without Hardware
             For a pram painter, bore a hole in the forward tran-                  grommet
             som just large enough to accept the rope. Bore a sec-
             ond hole in the knee that supports the forward tran-
             som. Lead the painter through both holes, after fair-  Figure 12-5. Protect your transom.
             ing the edges so the wood won’t cut the rope, then
             make a Figure-Eight Knot or button knot (Ashley’s               painter belayed to rail
             880 is perfect, see Chapter 4) in the end of the rope.
             You now have a painter that is ultimately strong and   thwart
             secure, without buying and installing any hardware.
             And the painter can be instantly removed, in case                      to towing vessel
             you need to use the line for something else.             oarlock

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