Research Note
Serving and Seizing - more data points
Mike Graff
The Art of Knotting and Splicing, Cyrus Lawrence Day, Naval Institute Press,
1947, 1955, 1970, reprinted 1972, third edition, ISBN 0-87021-083-1, LC card #
55-10028, pages 130-136, describes several types and variations of seizings,
accompanied by very clear photographs that are keyed to the text.
In those photos, the seizing line is consistently portrayed across 20 separate
photos at one fourth the diameter of the line(s) being seized. In addition,
the seizing line is shown to be laid up rope rather than twisted rope yarn or
twine.
The Handbook of Knots, Des Pawson, DK Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-7894-2395-2,
pages 152-154, illustrates two approaches to seizing and includes two close up
images of finished seizings on braided line. By measurement, the 'whipping
twine' used to make the seizings is 1/11 to 1/12 the diameter of the seized
line.
Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope.
--R. H. Dana, Jr.
Source
| small stuff
| any light rope used on shipboard
|
| marline
| a small usually tarred line of 2 strands
|
| rope
| a strong line
|
| seizing
| small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
|
| spun yarn
| (nautical) small stuff consisting of a lightweight rope made of
several rope yarns loosely wound together
|
Source
Small cordage is usually known on shipboard as small stuff. It is designated
either by the number of threads that it contains, such as "12-thread stuff,"
"15-thread stuff"; or as "ratline stuff," "seizing stuff," or "marline."
Source
...which gives meaning to this table about Seizings:
| Eye do. for 11 inch rope
| 21 thread
| Quarter do. 15 thread
|
| 10
| 18
| 12
|
| 8
| 15
| 9
|
| 7
| 12
| 6
|
...from Spars and Rigging From Nautical Routine, 1849, John McLeod Murphy and
W.N. Jeffers, Dover Publications, 2003, ISBN 0-486-42989-X (paperback), page
66, which indicates that bigger ropes are seized with bigger Small Stuff. [No,
I don't know what 'do.' means] {"Do." is an obscure abbreviation for "Ditto"; it's often seen
as "Do.". – Ed.}
Line 1 3/4 inches (44.5 mm) or less in circumference is called SMALL STUFF, and
size is usually designated by the number of threads (or yarns) that make up
each strand. You may find 6- to 24-thread small stuff, but the most common
sizes are 9- to 21-thread (fig. 4-3). You may hear some small stuff
designated by name without reference to size. One such type is MARLINE-a
tarred, two-strand, left-laid hemp. Marline is the small stuff you used the
most for seizing. When you need something stronger than marline, use a
tarred, three-strand, left-laid hemp, called HOUSELINE.
Source
Marline: A double threaded, left handed tarred cord, made from a good grade of
American hemp. In general use on shipboard for purposes similar to other small
stuff; A tarred hemp, two-stranded, left-handed, small stuff, about 1/8 inch
in diameter, used for neat seizings and fine service. Untarred marline is used
for making sennit.
Source
{
Mike Graff
}
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