The Mariner Episode 8: Making Lashings

In this episode I talk through the lashings we need to use to tension and secure the mast on Hellcat.
The idea for this video came from stuhl232 a subscriber who got in contact and asked to see this detail - thanks so much for taking the time to write to me- it really gives me a boost to know people are watching and engaged!
I filmed this episode in the workshop under the 'spartan tower' in Lunenburg and I hope we can do more of this kind of thing in the future!
To help grow the channel and give this crazy idea some wings please like, subscribe and tell your friends about Then Mariner!
You can also catch up with us at facebook/spartanoceanracing and on instagram...
If YOU want to go sailing on a boat like Hellcat Spartan can make that a reality- whatever your skill level. Check out the options (racing AND voyaging) at www.spartanoceanracing.com
If you want to support me directly for a few dollars a month- get along to Patreon and see what that is all about www.patreon.com/spartanoceanracing
Sail Safe, Sail Fast!
Music 'Bumblebee' KZbin Open Source
Video Copyright SpartanR/T 2019

[@sailingmare6563]

Beautifully done. I just used this technique to replace my lifelines and they came fantastic. So easy, and much less expensive then buying all the stainless hardware.

[@tonysmario817]

this is a great instructional video...one of the best i've seen. i have subscribed and hope to learn more. i have one suggestion, which i learned from old books on sailing and rigging...if you put a final turn around the attachment ring before hitching, after you've rove the required number of lashing turns, it's like a turn around a cleat before cleating off. it allows you to easily release the hitches on demand, and lessens the friction of the hitches, which is mostly taken up by the final turn around the ring. after that i love the polish method of hitching alternate sides of the lashing, since that is bound to spread the load the most.

[@matthewbeecher1400]

My favourite channel on KZbin right now, you're an absolute inspiration. My rigging needs updating and while it's only a 7metre fibreglass boat I can definitely see the advantages of switching over to lashings. Rigging is definitely a topic that's mostly left to riggers in sailing but you've made it really straightforward and logical! A video which depicts a timeline of your sailing career would be fantastic I think, seems like you've got a great story to tell!

[@CSMtheMariner]

Matthew Beecher hey man thanks for the thumbs up! It’s a weird thing trying to work out what people might like to see so I appreciate your comment- a show covering my background might be fun- I did a podcast called ‘not under command’ about it on Sound Cloud but I never finished it up- maybe I could work on that tomorrow !

[@normanhosford2506]

This video turned me on to your channel. Great! The original plan was to explore the idea of lashings to attach lifelines to carbon stanchions, thru-holes having been proved a very bad idea. The rest of the episodes also have a lot for technically oriented sailors.

[@OSAAUS]

Hi Chris, Firstly, I'd like to say thanks, this is the only sailing vblog I've watched past one episode! And each episode has been just as interesting. I have no issue with the video length or style at all, as you say it must be if your'e a sailor or not. The reason I think length isn't an issue is you're imparting knowledge all the time, whether it is showing how a system works, or how to use/fix it. Really experienced RYA instructors all seem to talk like this! Its both fascinating and rewarding just listening to such experience talking boats, so thank you for the efforts, it's very much appreciated. A sailing blog where I learnt something, that my good sir is a first. Edit: I loved the standing rigging lashing demo. Explaining why and how, man, that is so good.

[@CSMtheMariner]

Hi There! Thanks for the wonderful feedback! It's not a new thing for me to be stood in front of a camera or a crew talking about sailing BUT it is new thinking up ideas for each show, editing and trying to negotiate the maze that is KZbin! It's really rewarding to connect with those who take the time to write and share their observations. I think the best way for this to go is to keep telling the story and to intersperse the series with more in depth looks at particular details that people want to hear about- then if you are looking for a story you can enjoy it without too much dry techno babble and vice versa. I have observed that there are not many things on KZbin with more experienced sailors sharing their knowledge but lots of vlogs following people sharing the dream and the passion of being on the ocean- I will continue to try to walk the tight rope between the two. Cheers! CSM

[@ChristopherHubbell]

No problem at all with attention spans! Please make the content in whatever format (length) best get the message across. If I have to wait for a bigger block of time to watch, I'll do that. Really enjoying hearing about your thought process for bringing a new boat into program... All the things you consider, decisions, prior experiences. Well done, and appreciated!

[@normanboyes4983]

Thank you that was on point. Do not worry about the video length - if the subjects requires 5 minutes use 5 minutes if it requires 30 mins use every one of them. Just do not cram a 5 minute video into a 30 minute one.😉 So tell me - were you in the Andrew?

[@lucabuono690]

Thanks , very good job and explanations.

[@CSMtheMariner]

You are welcome!

[@alexdero1]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge,superb explanation and great source of information. True gentleman.

[@mariosampaio108]

how did you anchor the other end of the line? can we do this lashing with both ends?

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

The lashing makes so much sense. Makes me thing my lashings with dyneema are way to artisanal lol. Great info, never seen this before. Andy UK

[@CSMtheMariner]

You are so welcome!

[@javiergonzalez-de7xg]

the longer the video the better! thanks for sharing very usefull!

[@jdtan0]

Love the video! It's neat to see the little technical parts of ocean sailing and racing that are not often talked about. Maybe you could do a video on your tools. I believe I see a couple Gerber multi tools. Love to hear about that knife and other things you use in the shop and on the boat.

[@scottbooth7410]

Great videos Chris! Had no idea how involved these were to set up, and not just alone! Your transatlantic looks like you've had a walk around your neighborhood too, which shows just how familiar and comfortable you are in that environment. Great new podcasts as well. Keep the content coming. I look forward to them even more now that we are isolating and can't sail with you Spartan when we can. Cheers..

[@abrahamsintram7889]

Wow, this is some next level sailing-diy! Awesome! Keep the videos as long as they need to be for the info :)

[@CSMtheMariner]

I was going to respond to the comment you wrote first- weren't you asking about the tight turns the line takes? Sorry I was travelling to the Caribbean for more sailing adventures! I am happy to answer the question in detail if you still want to ask it! Cheers!

[@abrahamsintram7889]

Hi! Yeah, I was, and the second after that you adressed it :-) But please, do give us more details! The question was: wont the hard edges around the left metal part pose a threath to the integrity of the lines? And, while I have you here, are you familiar with any systematic testing of the load bearing capacities of our lashings, knots and schackles in modern rope? Like the beth and evan one? web.archive.org/web/20150206001206/bethandevans.com/load.htm

[@CSMtheMariner]

Hi Abraham- for some reason your comment was 'held as spam' Not sure why that was.. what are you selling ? I am aware that lashings can and should be load tested to get to the bottom of exactly how much they can bear. The sailor's method is to look at the number of turns and conclude that the overall strength is a function of the accumulated rope but the story is much more complex and with dyneema/spectra much more to do with friction in the hitches golding everything together. I have done testing with Marlow Ropes looking at the relative strength of the most complex and over engineered knots against the simplest 'one minute' lashing and the results are clear- when you are dealing with double braid line (ie lien with a sheath on it) the breaking stain of the knot is closer to the breaking strain of the sheath than of the core. I will take a look at Beth & Evans link and perhaps a good episode for the Mariner in the future would be a session on a hydraulic draw (the machine used to test line strength) and find out just how good my creations are! Addressing your quick points about the hard edges damaging the line- the radius on the component was probably a little more favourable than it may have seemed in the video as these parts are designed by Future Fibers (the rigging manufacturers) to be used for rope lashing. You are right of course - if the edge was designed for a bolt or mechanical connection system other than rope a right angled edge would eventually part the line. Sail Safe! CSM

[@peterheiberg566]

You didn’t mention how to tension the lashing. The function of the rigging screw is to tension the shroud so the function of the lashing must be the same. I know how to do it with dead eyes and lanyards on old gaffers but no idea on an open 60. Great video as usual.

[@brunsonr]

Feel free to mix up the duration of videos. Many can cover the topic in 15 minutes. Others may take 25. Thanks for putting these out their!

[@CSMtheMariner]

brunsonr thanks for the feedback! From what I can tell it’s too easy to think there is a formula to making aYT channel a success and you are either winning or losing- the reality seems to be - produce what you want to produce and enjoy making and be consistent- the rest will come!

[@stuhl232]

@@CSMtheMariner I couldn't agree more

[@stuhl232]

Thanks for the shout out and putting this video together so quickly! It was exactly what I was looking for. What should one look for/consider when it comes to the hardware lashings go to? Given the strengths involved, I would imagine the hardware or the point the hardware is fastened to would fail before the lashing. Also, how did you secure the lashing to the starting point in the video? Did you use a fid/tool to create a loop at one end? I would be interested to see what you think/how you do soft shackles and other rope work. Keep it up!

[@gdahlm]

Obviously I have no idea where you want to take you channel and as others have said if you adjust the duration please do so because it is what you feel what is right. While shorter may be more popular on this platform I selfishly hope you don't change your style much. Please keep them long enough so that you still have time to show us "why" you do something and not just "how". Building intuitions on why decisions are made may take more time but it amortizes out in the long run. It is easy to find people who will explain "how" but rare to find people who will explain "why" and even rarer to find people who do so well like yourself. Either way, no matter what you decide to do thank you for sharing your knowledge. This video alone helped me understand a problem I have had with half hitches that dates back to my scouting days...and I became an Eagle scout in the 1980's Good luck and I look forward to learning more from you.

[@CSMtheMariner]

My goodness! Thank you for the positivity it really gives me energy to keep up my efforts! I think the main thing I am starting to realize is that there are a lot of people who want to follow a sailing blog but also learn along the way- through your feedback and others I am quickly learning that varying the duration is not a problem - I just need to find the balance between telling the story and showing the details - 50% of people want the chat, 50% want the facts! I think I will have to get used to hearing both opinions:) Your comment about half hitches made me smile- they are such useful little critters when used correctly- do you think there would be an interest in looking in depth at knots? I could do an hour on bowlines alone! Cheers, CSM.

[@marklong8608]

You mentioned that even a slip of a few mm would throw the rigging tunning off, and it sounded like the point of that approach was adjustability, but I don't understand how you maintain the tension exactly where you want it while tieing off the lashing or adjust it afterwards......is there another video that talks about that?

[@johnvanwattingen8983]

Super video!! Question...how far apart should the 2 eyes be minimum. I will use 8mm Dyneema

[@mastpg]

Less than a minute in and I already have the what and the why thesis summary in clear, accessible language...subscribed. Why can't all creators just take 30sec before pressing record and work up a concise intro like this?

[@CSMtheMariner]

I really appreciate your input - thanks for the sub👍

[@Blueybob]

Thanks for your videos. I'm learning things. Don't get too focused on video length. I find 25 minutes not too long.

[@jimmypurtill3933]

Hi there. I'm wondering if there is any other way to start this than an eye-splice. Would you do it with a bowline?

[@CheersWarren]

Hi, great info on lashing, with the hell cat you can adjust with the mast ram , maybe but getting the length right is clearly vital. How do you adjust one lashing on a normal race boat where you find the tension is wrong? How do you disconnect the rig at the end of the season if you keep you boat in a place where you want to cover everything up for the winter? ( I assume use shackles made for line). UV protection , I have some ready made boots with zips for turn buckles using wetsuits type material , how would these work? Replacing all the lashings on Hellcat seem over the tool for the crossing , with the low pressure delivery trip could you not just test any lashing exposed to UV to check for degradation? The PBO Main rig ...this is covered with UV protection , why do you say it has lost 50% of it strength? Well protected it should last Indefinitely or am I all wrong? Great stuff. Cheers Warren

[@WillDeutsch]

Sad to hear you plan on shortening the videos... Really liked the old length...

[@CSMtheMariner]

Don't worry Will- positive feedback from yourself and others have educated me that there are still some people out there with attention spans beyond 7-12 minutes!! Thank goodness- its hard enough to edit things down to 20mins ! Cheers, CSM

[@konradkaltenbach7069]

Would the polish style lashing at the end work for lashing a torsion cable on a top down furler to a assymetric?

[@CSMtheMariner]

Yes, thats what I use :)

[@konradkaltenbach7069]

@@CSMtheMariner Thank you for putting the video together. It's hard to find instruction on the lashing used for top down, so this helps a lot. Cheers.

[@shielpark]

Another great video, very informative. Think there is a growing trend of sailors moving towards dyneema rigging due to the advantages you have stated. This video shows a cruising sailors experience with changing his rigging kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoPIZ6Rtn8-Vqbs please keep the videos coming they're now my favourite go to videos.

[@CSMtheMariner]

Hi Iain- thanks for the link- its great to see what other sailors are working on :)! Dyneema is an incredible product that has some characteristics unique cruisers and voyagers alike can take advantage of. I have skippered a number of larger classic yachts and as I started my career as a tall ship rigger I am happy to now be able to take my knowledge of modern systems back to those boats and cure problems they have coped with for decades! I hope to be able to bridge the gap between racers and cruisers as much as possible- it really is a massive divide in sailing which I seem to have drifted across in the last ten years without realizing and now although people see me as a 'racer' in my head I'm just a 'voyager'. I hope we can grow the channel over the next few years and make it a place where people come to share a passion for sailing and knowledge that helps everyone whether cruiser or racer sail safe. Cheers, CSM.