Page 349 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

2091. Many sailors keep their sea chests lashed at all times to dis-

courage prying, particularly when a lock is untrustworthy. The

method of lashing shown here admits of opening the lid without

casting off the turns of the lashing, which is a great convenience.

A NOOSE, preferably an eye spliced one, is passed around one end

of the chest and the rope end is rove downward through the becket

of the same end. A CROSSING KNOT is added at the bottom and the

end is rove up through the opposite becket. A hitch is passed around

the second end, with a CROSSING KNOT at the bottom, and the end is

then secured to the EYE SPLICE as in 'II: 2080.

To open this lashing: Cast off the final knot and slip the original

NOOSE and the hitch at the other end down over their respective

ends. This allows the lid to be opened.

2092. To lash a chest with MARLINE HITCHES: Stand it on end and

put a NOOSE around the top, then, beginning near the top, put on a

series of snug SINGLE HITCHES. Each of these, after being formed, is

hove snug below the preceding one, which capsizes it into a MARLINE

HITCH.

2093. To remove MARLINE HITCHES quickly and easily, remove all

other complications in the rope and then drop the hitches to the

floor. Remove the chest and haul the lower end of the lashing up

through the center of the turns. This unties the series in the manner

described for TRICK KNOT '11:2582.

2094. Instead of starting a lashing with a NOOSE, it is sometimes

started with a hitch around the . . A CROSSING KNOT ('II: 2077) is

added to the working end on the reverse side and the working end

is half hitched to the ring, eye or loop with which the standing end

is fitted.

2095. A most expeditious way to tie small parcels and rolls is with

KNOT'll: I 227. The lashing having been put on, tie a HALF KNOT with

the two ends. Lead the upper end to a position below the lower end

of the HALF KNOT, as pictured in the left diagram. Then draw the

knot taut and add a HALF HITCH around the lower part with tht'

working end.

2096. A lashing that passes around the girth only of an object,

without having any' frapping turns, is termed at sea a stop or a

stopping. Furled saIls are "stopped" and sails that are to be "set fly-

ing" are first "put up in stops."

The common knot for finishing off a stopping is the REEF or

2,0'4 SQUARE KNOT.

2097. For stopping rolls of moderate circumference-rugs, papers,

and such-nothing can be snugger than the CoNSTRICTOR KN01

('II: I 249). But as the CONSTRICTOR KNOT binds so tight! that it must

be cut or broken to release an object, it is not suitable or rope unless

it is slipped as 'II: 1250.

2098. In racing craft, light sails are "sent up in sto s," that is, they

are tied in a long roll with a series of light stops be ore hoisting. At

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