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Visual History
The Building of Aslan
Updated 03/25/01
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A
Visual History
The Building of Aslan |
Updated 03/25/01 |
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I like the marline hitch to tie a sail to its gaff or boom because it has less tendency to slip than half hitches.. Its shown here on Aslan's gaff. The only difference between tying it on a gaff verses a boom is the direction you send the line to go around the gaff or boom (up or down!) |
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Now for my attempt at showing how the marline hitch is done.
I'm holding the line in position to wrap it around the boom. I will
wrap the line under the boom, through a sail grommet and then back to continue
on horizontally to the next grommet in the sail.
Just remember "OVER and then UNDER." |
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I've gone around the boom, letting the line lay OVER the horizontal portion of the line. (Ignore the line running along the top of the boom; imagine that's where the sail grommet is.) The natural tendency is to tie a half hitch, by leading the line UNDER the horizontal portion and continuing on. This one extra step really makes the lacing more secure. |
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Finally, you tuck the bitter end of the line UNDER the loop portion, then draw tight. By going OVER the line first, then UNDER in this step, you increase the friction on the line, making it more secure. |
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Success! The marline hitch is done, with my left hand ready to lead it to another sail grommet. The marline hitch is secure enough that it keeps tension on the part just tied, so its easy to make tight lacing all the way across the boom or gaff. |
| The marline hitch would not be the choice if you have an outhaul to tighten the sail along its foot; spiral lacing is better, because you want the sail to move along the horizontal plane. |
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