Monkeys Spronging

[Mariner69]

It has never ceased to amaze me how the yachting world manages to invent a new word for an old event.

Crutches for the oars (which slot into the gunnel) are called 'rowlocks' by yachtsmen. But rowlocks are actually cut outs in the gunnel itself; seen in admiralty cutters.

'Flaking' out a line called 'faking and remember the arguments over 'dipping the eye'.

In this months PBO, 'springing off on an after back spring' is now called 'spronging'.

Incidentally given the wind onto the berth why not go ahead on the forward fore spring rigged as a slip and then, when fully clear aft, come smartly astern using the weather vane effect from the centre of effort transferring to the propeller? Much more control and smartly done.

The thing that has finally driven me to raise this thread is the article in the June 2015 PBO on how to make a monkey's fist and to use a golf ball for weight. Excuse the pun, but I waited to see if anybody else responded but did not find any when I searched. At that time I had in mind a PLA document that stated the PLA shore crews were instructed to cut a weighted monkeys fist from the heaving line to use in evidence for a prosecution. Note the information the PLA gave was 'for a prosecution' a firm intention.

Now PBO might wish to consider the following missive
http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/sb2of2015-illegalanddangeroususeofweightedheavinglines.pdf
which also includes the MCA's input.

A land lubber hit by a weighted heaving line can react quite angrily. I witnessed this when entering Durban in the 70's when one of our Indian crew threw a weighted heaving line and it went right through the open window of the Volkswagen parked on the quay striking the senior officer of customs (the passenger in the car) firmly in the face. I don't recall so many rummages in such a short time as we experienced there.

I would suggest that the monkey fist on its own, without any added weight, will more than deal with any requirements for yachtsmen.

 

[prv]

The thing that has finally driven me to raise this thread is the article in the June 2015 PBO on how to make a monkey's fist and to use a golf ball for weight. Excuse the pun, but I waited to see if anybody else responded but did not find any when I searched. At that time I had in mind a PLA document that stated the PLA shore crews were instructed to cut a weighted monkeys fist from the heaving line to use in evidence for a prosecution. Note the information the PLA gave was 'for a prosecution' a firm intention.

Mm, I had the same thought. Southampton publish an annual NtoM on the subject and also promise to cut off the weights.

Pete

 

[lw395]

The only actual throwing line I have is the MOB throw-line-in-a-bag thingy.
I guess there might be an MOB situation where one might be grateful that somebody could get a weighted throwing line well past you?

 

[William_H]

Ah the language of the sailor. Indeed the English language itself and it ever changine words and meanings. Indeed accelerated by modern technology.
Anyway "monkey's fist." I take every opportunity to teach people how to throw a rope a decent distance with no weight or anything else on the end. I think it can be done witha reasonable distance perhaps not quite so far as a heavy weighted line but much safer.
Just for the record ... throwing a rope. The inner end is attached to something. Starting from the other end coil about 4 turns into right hand. (or left for LH handers). Now continue to coil the rope into the RH but using a finger seperate the remaining coils ie 3 or 4 turns. Now take the last few coils in the left hand keeping first lot and rope end in RH. Now swing the right hand back and throw the first coil while following up with the left hand full. ie throw both hand fulls at once but predominating with the RH.
Practice will show that this can effectively throw a rope to a person in the water or on a jetty without risk of hitting them witha weight or having a weight. good luck olewill

 

[Strolls]

“To prevent person injury to those receiving heaving lines, the ‘monkey’s fist’ should be made with rope only and must not contain added weighting material. Safe alternatives include a small high-visibility soft pouch, filled with fast-draining pea shingle or similar, with a weight of not more than 0.5kg."

The maximum weight of a golf ball is 46g (0.05kg), so its use would seem to be broadly compliant, if not strictly so.

 

[Seajet]

As long as one doesn't actually throw the kedge at people on shore I'd say they're getting off lightly, and why are they standing there if not to help ?

Personally I hate monkey's fists - in normal use - or even spliced eyes on lines as they're guaranteed to jam when trying to lead through or pull free of something.

I remember the tale of an incident in Weymouth years ago when the late tall ship Astrid was turning, bowsprit swept the quay and kebabed a Citroen 2CV in one window and out the other, dragging it along the quay; now they may have had reason to complain !