Just so you know Ashley's book of Knots is on Pirate Bay.
I've had my copy of Ashley for 30 years or so.
The cat o' nine tails really works. Got stolen of course.
Karl
Don, your writing style is really interesting - relaxing to read as well.
When I see one of your posts I always read it.
You really ought to setup a little blog page somewhere & update it when you
feel the need. I reckon we'd all get a lot of enjoyment reading what you've
got to tell.
You guys are too much.
Perhaps I sorta use RCM as a blog, with occasional supplementary web
pages when photos or graphics are helpful. I've sorta done that
occasionally in the past, mostly during winter months when I'm in
wideband land.
I feel like I have found a number of friends on RCM over the years,
some no longer frequent (or ever) posters.
By the way, Gunner, Fitch's daily carry is a .380. <VBG>
I learned to rig in diving school in 1974. We practiced in the dark, as
that was what working conditions were like. OSHA says NEVER use a rope to
hoist, but it's done all the time, and like you say, if it's done right it's
the best thing. We used to hoist boards using a timber hitch. When I
taught knots to the new guys, they looked like they had just scored with
some pretty girl. Doing something that most people can't do. I still amaze
people with my rigging skills, and when someone wants something tied right,
they call me.
The bowline that creates two bights is a useful knot, but I like the one
where the two loops cannot slip. On the bight, IIRC. The other is the
Spanish or French. Tons of simple knots, hitches, etc, that work great.
Backsplicing and eye splicing always gets me oohs and ahs, particularly when
I just do it in about three minutes, and toss it out there.
One of my favorite knots is the sheet bend, as it doesn't spill like the
square knot. You know the thief knot?
Steve
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An old sailor's tale, but true. It can still be used today. If you know
rope, you can tell a lot by just looking at it. A lot.
Steve
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You may also like "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Knots & Ropework", by
Geoffrey Budworth. Can sometimes be found on the discount rack at Borders.
I have a few pamphlets from the Plymouth Rope Company dated 1946 with knots
such as the midshipman's hitch, Spanish bowline, double bowline, and "How to
tie a lariat" by Toots Mansfield. Maybe I'll scan and post a link
Needing to know more, I went here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter%27s_bend
Which says that it can jam under moderate strain and refers to the
_very_ similar Zeppelin bend:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin_bend
which it says does not ("jam proof", it says).
Bob
BTW - a nice variation on the square (reef) knot is the surgeon's knot,
which puts an extra twist on the initial throw and makes it more secure
while you're "throwing" the return. When Mary's not there to put her
thumb on it.
SNIPPED
And for those who need to see a knot before they can tie it.
http://www.animatedknots.com /
Being a FD member and an EMT who does confined space and high angle
stuff a bit I try to keep in practice as well.
Also use many knots while fishing. If you ever think tying a knot with a
good rope is hard try tying some of the braided fishing line you can buy!!!!
If you're going for grouper in 75 to 200 feet of water, use Suffix and a
live baby yellow tail. You can feel the 'tail getting scared even before the
bite.
There's a real good spot to do this just a couple miles out from KCB
karl
I'm not. In salt water, I'm fishing for bluefish in around 10' of water. The
issue for me is casting, from jetties and the beach, but I'm not sure I want
to put up with the complications -- like buying a $35 conversion kit for my
spinning reel, and figuring out how to hoist 10-lb. choppers up a rock wall
without cutting my hands to ribbons. I've seen the scars some guys have
gotten from that line.
I have some PowerPro and some SpiderWire braided line. Both good line
BUT they take a little time to get used to. The SpiderWire seems to stay
tighter on the spools and casts a little smoother but it's not a huge
difference. Knots are a whole new item with braided. Many of the
standards won't hold.
Spent a few hours on vacation playing up in the Salmon River. Didn't get
much worth keeping but one kid down under a bridge was having a blast
pulling in small Rock Bass and Bluegill. He was about 6-7 and every time
he asked his dad "Is this one big enough to keep?" He did get a good
sized Bluegill just before we left.
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