New Dogs and Old Tricks

AMCD300 said:
Some great tips there I have to say. The dampening effect is similar to a weighted device I saw on the forum once which was sent over midships, and which had a hinged wooden 'plank' to counter the swell upwards, and which hinged to drop again on the roll back down.

I looked for the original post but could not find it. This sounds like a much easier way to achieve the same effect.

Andy
Click to expand...

'Flopper stopper'?
 
I'm sure many people know this, but the Lorryman's Hitch is a wonderful way of tightening rops down over loads.

Basically, form half a sheepshank in the standing part, then pass the end through the eye or or other holdfast, through the loop formed by the hald sheepshank, and then simply heave on the end to tighten. To secure, either make a sheet-bend with the end of the rope and the loop, or half-hitch round it a couple of times.

Sorry - rotten description, but I couldn't find a better one on the web!

It's VERY quick to tie (much quicker than I can write it), and surprisingly secure.

BTW, you'll find all sorts of versions of this on Google - none I could find match what I was taught by a lorry driver (before ratchet straps were invented!), nor are they as quick and convenient to tie. Tying it is like tying a bowline - once you've got the trick to make the initial half-htch, you can tie it with your eyes closed.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I'm sure many people know this, but the Lorryman's Hitch is a wonderful way of tightening rops down over loads.

Basically, form half a sheepshank in the standing part, then pass the end through the eye or or other holdfast, through the loop formed by the hald sheepshank, and then simply heave on the end to tighten. To secure, either make a sheet-bend with the end of the rope and the loop, or half-hitch round it a couple of times.

Sorry - rotten description, but I couldn't find a better one on the web!

It's VERY quick to tie (much quicker than I can write it), and surprisingly secure.

BTW, you'll find all sorts of versions of this on Google - none I could find match what I was taught by a lorry driver (before ratchet straps were invented!), nor are they as quick and convenient to tie. Tying it is like tying a bowline - once you've got the trick to make the initial half-htch, you can tie it with your eyes closed.
Click to expand...

I've never been able to tie one of these yet...

You are right though - a great knot to know.

Thanks for the tip

Andy
 
I kept a hammer in the passenger parcel shelf of my moggy thou, had to give it a thump before trying to overtake anything.
You can buy a foot valve in many sizes to make a jiggle syphon, I used a 1" dia with similar sized hose to syphon fuel into the boat, did a 200 litre drum in about three minutes. Had a ball valve on the end for easy control.
The lorry driver's, or 'wagon hitch' can be used as a very powerful tackle if you can't use a Spanish windlass and have the length: haul down the tail, then put another wagon hitch on that, repeat as needed.
 
Re: lorryman's hitch

Cheers for that! Exactly what I was looking for a while ago when trying to tie down a sail bundle to both sides of the deck. Looks a bit confusing though.
 
Once upon a time, just about every 10-year old could tie that.... and a reef knot, a clove hitch, an anchor bend and a couple of flavours of bowline. And the little monsters had a badge to wear on t'sleeve of Cubs' jersey.

....One had to wait another couple of years before learning how to construct a 'sheerlegs', but another 50 before discovering the contraption was designed for lowering sailboat masts without a pair of riggers, a crane, a recently-certificated driver, a ( similar ) banksman, an H&S inspector, and a first aid crew on standby.
 
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OldBilbo - I agree.

Once upon a time we were all in the cubs and scouts, and we spent most weekends camping, making fires, making tents and shelters and generally learning a lot about self-sufficiency in the field.

Now, all many cub and scout packs seem to do (I've been an assistant leader in two cub scout packs in the recent past, incidentally) is play games, visit fire stations/ambulance stations/police stations etc, indeed anything that does not involve real fires, knives, ropes or getting dirty.

Such a shame...

Andy
 
To clear out water in the bilge or from the space under the engine i have placed a hoselock fitting just before the shower pump
If i want to "hoover" up any excess water i just disconnect the hose, connect to a spare hose & use that to pump out the bilges.
Syphoning not needed
 
Sorry, this is not for sensitive souls.

Re. fuel syphons there is the old tale of a British couple who rented a motorhome in America; they parked up in a layby and heard noises outside at night, but didn't dare go out.

In the morning they found a pipe into the chemical loo and a pool of v***t.
 
Seajet said:
Sorry, this is not for sensitive souls.

Re. fuel syphons there is the old tale of a British couple who rented a motorhome in America; they parked up in a layby and heard noises outside at night, but didn't dare go out.

In the morning they found a pipe into the chemical loo and a pool of v***t.
Click to expand...

I had to read that three times to get it, brilliant!


Lynall
 
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