I start all the "kids" out on basic knots. I test them on a regular basis.
Most of the young'uns have mastered the basic knots and are fluent by age 5.
My nephew Jacob [13 years old] just impressed me last week with his first
Turks head and Monkey's Fist. He can splice braid and I started him splicing
triple strand hemp at 7 years old when he showed interest. He wants to
learn how to braid a hemp fender now. That's beyond my ability....
Marlinspike Seamanship is indeed a dying art.

I don't know about you guys but I do all my own splicing and rope work. All
the young ones have been taught a real respect for rope. They will
automatically coil and secure any loose rope ... even at the dock when it's
not our cordage. No spaghetti on the Overproof.... lines are coiled and
hung, ends are wound and stitched.

I also teach them the art of rowing... not with the oarlocks .. but with
pins.. you have to flair the blade to maintain it's bite and secure it to
the gunwale under stroke.

Now I have to master sculling.... and teach them before they learn by
themselves and outdo me. They have a real thirst for knowledge if you make
it fun.

Most of them started sailing while in diapers... now they can handle the
boat while I give the orders..... I've got 13 crew of dedicated sailors most
of which can outsail their parents... that's a real bonus for me with a
reserve crew trained.. up and coming. ;-)

CM





"Michael" wrote in message
...
| I'm seriously jealous. Took me 54 years to learn how. Getting to be a
lost
| art in my workplace though along with splicing etc. We don't do wire
| splices anymore at all. Hard to find younger deck crew who really learned
| the knots and how to splice. It's a constant teaching chore. Seriously
you
| can tell who sails 'sails' and who sails steam and diesel by watching how
| they handle lines. The 'real' sailors shine and the others stick out like
a
| sore thumb.
|
| M.
|
| "Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
| ...
| Well I'm not a pinnacle of marlinspike seamanship... but Old Capt.
Haines
| taught me the single hand bowline... told me it would be one of the most
| useful skills in knots to master. He was right.
| [What you refer to as the Tugboat Bowline]
|
| I've taught my crew and even my 6 year old niece can tie one now.
|
| CM
|
|
|
|
| "Michael" wrote in message
| ...
| | There are two types of single hand bowlines. One is when you pass the
| line
| | behind you when, say, mountain climbing and tie it off with the strong
| hand
| | only. In this case the line is fairly supported. The other is the
| tugboat
| | bowline which is a marvel of flipping the running end in a magical
| motion
| | that results in a bowline. People who can do the tugboat bowline are
| the
| | pinnacle of knottists. But now name all the types of bowlines and
don't
| | forget. hint hint the Dragon Bowline.
| |
| | M.
| |
| | "Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
| | ...
| | A single-hand bowline....
| |
| | CM
| |
| | "Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message
| | ...
| | | Which one is most appropriate for the situation?
| | |
| | | Value = 1 pointy thing
| | |
| | | In article ,
| | | Bart Senior wrote:
| | | LP is telling us she likes to be tied up. Gentlemen practice
| | | your knots!
| | |
| | | --
| | | Jonathan Ganz (j gan z @ $ail no w.c=o=m)
| | | http://www.sailnow.com
| | | "If there's no wind, row."
| | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|