Page 394 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

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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