Sound The Part!

[JennyMorgan]

Was on a boat today when the owner referred to a 'painter', now I know that that is a mooring rope on a small boat. Anyway I decided to check and found out that it is the 'string at the front' in particular. Once it was an everyday term but now I rarely hear it used, or even use it myself which is a pity. Us boaters have a rich vocabulary available to us, as well as long standing  traditions and customs. Have a peep at this lot:

http://phrontistery.info/nautical.html

There are only two ropes on a boat, a bolt rope and a bell rope, lots to learn. Then perhaps you'll tackle the complete Ashely Book of knots 

http://www.libramar.net/news/the_ashley_book_of_knots/2011-05-20-414

 

[Polly]

I always call the string on the pointy end of the Whimp a painter...

[JennyMorgan]

Arrrr ha, but then you are a real nautical lady! 

[Polly]

Ere oo are you calling norty?

[ChrisB]

I unwittingly say warp if it has a lid and painter if it is open. I think most dinghy sailors and those now too old still do.

[Viking23]

I thought a painter was the rope on say a dinghy, when used for towing it for example, or mooring it to a jetty with the painter only.

Something like this.

[Polly]

Yep so do I, with other bits of tying up string I say 'mooring line' or specifically 'a spring' if that's what it is doing at the time. 

I was a weaver before I was a saily so 'warp' is on a loom to me....or Dave's forum name of course.

[Broadsword]

We refer to the 'line' in shorthand, as in, 'can you release the stern line', but I think painter is acceptable on a small yacht?  We also both understand warps, but neither us would call them ropes!!

We usually teach youngsters that there are no ropes on a boat (so that they learn to refer to them correctly rather than just say 'pull that rope!' - but Peter is right... however, what do we imagine the bolt rope is? I use it to refer to the rope sewn into my sail luff... Is that right?

[JennyMorgan]

On the peak and foot too. I have an old cotton jib stashed away somewhere that even has the leech partially roped.

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Sailing ropes

1,  Painter, a single rope from the stemhead of a small boat or dinghy to make fast to a mother ship, or a jetty, or when moored to a bouy on a swinging mooring

2,  Warps,  forward and aft mooring ropes.

3,  Springs,  mooring ropes attached at or near each quarter, and taken fwd to mooring post,  also from foredeck to aft mooring post

4,  Halayards,  ropes for hoisting sails

5,  Sheets,  ropes used to control, or set the sails.

 

Ihave`nt been sailing for many years, so is that right, or have i missed anything?.

[JennyMorgan]

Spot on, Speed. To that you could add down-hauls, up-hauls, lanyards, bunt-lines, various strops, tiller lines and probably quite a few others plus, strangely enough, breast ropes or have I got that last one wrong?

[JennyMorgan]

Just done a spot of googling, breast ropes are not normally a part of Broads boating, breast lines or warps are the norm.

[Broadsword]

Good one ST... I should not refer to my warps as painters! 

[Warp]

4 hours ago, JennyMorgan said:

Just done a spot of googling, breast ropes are not normally a part of Broads boating, breast lines or warps are the norm.

So what is a bust line then? I'm pretty sure I've heard some emphatic language on that subject before particularly in the context of broads.

[MauriceMynah]

Would the breast line be utilised when given the instruction "Avast behind"?

[Springsong]

A bust line is surely the polite way to refer to a breast line ?

[marshman]

Fancy words!! Rope ok?  Or even string or line!!

Sailed all my life and I don't think I have EVER used the word " painter" unless its connected with a decorator!!

N.B. Something in common with PW - again!!

[JennyMorgan]

Marsh, just curious, what is that string thingummy called that you control that flappy whatsit on a wherry's big stick with called?

[JennyMorgan]

1 hour ago, MauriceMynah said:

Would the breast line be utilised when given the instruction "Avast behind"?

More likely when stowing the buffs in the forepeak!

[JennyMorgan]

For those who don't know what 'buffs' are, here's a load of 'em:

[Wildfuzz]

Thank goodness I have a   and not a . I can cope with Port Starboard bow & stern, after that its steering wheel accelerator top and bottom, that's all I need.

[BroadAmbition]

Avast me hearty's,  or  'Hold Fast'

Cracking thread this one, loads of naval terminology appearing and I know 'undreds' of em!

'Buffs' in the RN is not something one wants to hear if you are on the receiving end as it means:-    'Buck Up For 'F' Sake' ie one is not doing ones job properly.  Here's another 'BZ' - means exactly the opposite:- 'Well Done'

As for the rope terminology - I never refer to the head and stern berthing ropes as warps, I know that not correct but it's just what we are used to, on the many patrol craft / minesweepers I served on they were almost always referred to as Head and Stern ropes too.  'B.A' does have a genuine bell rope onboard and we have no use of a bolt rope unless we had the tender with us and it's sails up.

A cracking read of Naval terminology that is easy to follow and learn was written by Commander Jolly, a naval Surgeon (I  have a signed copy) - 'Jack Speak' https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jackspeak-Rick-Jolly/dp/1844861449#reader_1844861449

Griff

[BroadScot]

Funny enough a localish football club nickname are the BUFFS. Kilwinning Rangers. Yes I know, another piece of useless information.  Ok i'll get my 

[marshman]

PW - gaff line!!! ( Sorry a bit late - half asleep!! )

[Broadsword]

I think the value of having specific terms (even if they are not the official ones!) is that everyone knows what is being referred to. It's the same with Port and Starboard, as opposed to left and right... it avoids confusion!  'Throw me the rope...  no the other rope... the one on the left hand side... as you face the bows I mean... No, the one tied to the thing on the back that um, you tie the rope to, for tying onto other things, on the bank... Too late, you've floated too far away...'