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Hervey Garrett Smith
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The Marlinspike Sailor Paperback – September 1, 1993

by Hervey Garrett Smith (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 448 ratings
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Hervey Garrett Smith was the foremost marine illustrator of the 1950s and 1960s, and his wonderful drawings of traditional ropework quickly propelled The Marlinspike Sailor to cult classic status when it was published in 1956. With the addition of a section on modern, synthetic rope in the 1970s, its popularity has continued undiminished to this day. It teaches a few basic knots--the bowline, sheet bend, and rolling hitch, among others--and splices in three-strand and braided rope. But its real business is decorative rope and canvaswork--the traditional arts of the sailor--and here it has no equal. For a rope mat, a rope ladder, a sea chest, a ditty bag, a canvas bucket, a mast boot, and the best-looking rope fenders or heaving line in the marina, this is the book of choice.
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  1. Print length
    131 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 1993
  5. Dimensions
    8.6 x 0.3 x 10.9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0070592187
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0070592186
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
448 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book worth reading, entertaining, and thought-provoking. They also find the illustrations helpful and easy to follow. Readers describe the information as informative, a good reference, and interesting. Opinions differ on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and complete, while others say the instructions are not as explicit as they would like.

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ReadabilityIllustrationsInformation qualityWriting quality
50 customers mention "Readability"50 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth reading, entertaining, and thought-provoking. They say it's the best book on the market for learning and reviewing knots. Readers also mention the book has both fun and practical elements.

"Excellent book, not only is it a great resource for knot tying for any skill level from noob to professional, it is entertaining, humorous, and just..." Read more

"...are just getting into Marlinspike Seasmanship/Ropework Crafts, this is a great book...." Read more

"It's a quick introduction to the world of knotting, but moreso to the world of yachtsmanship...." Read more

"Pros: It's well written and fun to read. It's full of historic information and anecdotes...." Read more

47 customers mention "Illustrations"39 positive8 negative

Customers find the illustrations in the book endlessly helpful in visualizing the various skills. They say the line drawings are great fun to look at, and the diagrams are easy to follow. Readers also appreciate the clear instructions and say the book provides clear, sensible instructions for fifty years. They mention the book is an interesting addition to their bookshelf.

"...The illustrations are quite honestly amazing, the author truly knows how to draw knots and rope, which is a very difficult thing to do...." Read more

"...a basic to advanced knotbook, but it shows complex knots, a very easy way to learn to the Turks Heads and a myriad of sea/sailor related projects,..." Read more

"...The illustrations are endlessly helpful in getting a handle on visualizing the various procedures...." Read more

"...The illustrations represent a wide variety of interesting projects .Cons: The book is very uneven...." Read more

42 customers mention "Information quality"35 positive7 negative

Customers find the book very informative and a good reference. They say it provides an interesting insight into what was expected of a sailor. Readers also appreciate the great advice for improving the operation and the great overview of some complex and beautiful knots. They describe the book as fun and engaging, saying it tests their abilities.

"Excellent book, not only is it a great resource for knot tying for any skill level from noob to professional, it is entertaining, humorous, and just..." Read more

"...I recommend the book as a fun and engaging overview of marlinspike seamanship, but if you want to learn the craft, this book alone is not sufficient." Read more

"...In addition, this book has a lot of great bits of advice for improving the operation of your boat...." Read more

"...Clear and easy to follow, but written in a puckish, engaging manner. It comes across quite clearly that Mr. Smith was a true sailor...." Read more

28 customers mention "Writing quality"19 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book. Some mention it's well-written and interesting, while others say the instructions are not as explicit as they would like. They also mention the diagrams can be difficult to follow and have little or no explanation.

"...The illustrations are very good and the text is very interesting reading...." Read more

"...The dry wit and overall candor of the text is quite refreshing...." Read more

"...Clear and easy to follow, but written in a puckish, engaging manner. It comes across quite clearly that Mr. Smith was a true sailor...." Read more

"...Some have little or no explanation. I also noticed that some knot-tying diagrams are inaccurate and near-impossible to follow...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Lobby
5.0 out of 5 stars quite possibly the best decorative knot-tying book out there, if I could have only one book on knots this would be it.
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
Excellent book, not only is it a great resource for knot tying for any skill level from noob to professional, it is entertaining, humorous, and just interesting because of some of the things it relates. The author includes some interesting and funny anecdotes from his experiences being a mariner, and these stories really give a sense of how things were for mariners in a different time (although not THAt long ago). The illustrations are quite honestly amazing, the author truly knows how to draw knots and rope, which is a very difficult thing to do. I have a good few books on knot tying, but this is by far my favorite, and is the one I alwaysgo right to and open up when I have a me ory lapse on how to tie something. It would be nice for the book to include more simple knots and patterns that have become more popular recently, but you can't have everything, and it wasn't written recently. Also, the author assumes the audience has some basic knowledge of working with rope, so that is likely why there isn't more space given to the most basic of knots and techniques. There is sill enough basic stuff included for someone completely new to tying to pick up this book and use it as a sole resource for developing a fairly strong grasp of tying different decorative knots and patterns. Also includes instructions on how to make quite a few cool little things like buouy wraps and bell ringers.
12 people found this helpful
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Crorivco
5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to your ropework library and skills
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2011
Verified Purchase
It is not for beginners, as a how-to so much of basic sailor knots, for that you need a basic to advanced knotbook, but it shows complex knots, a very easy way to learn to the Turks Heads and a myriad of sea/sailor related projects, both inventive and traditional. The illustrations are very good and the text is very interesting reading. It is like Herman Melville in tone, to me, reminding me of the age-old uses of rope, though it fits nicely in the modern realm, of a knot-work book, and can greatly add to your skills as you learn and improvise on the various projects mentioned. Some go beyond knot-work in sailing and other practical things. So if increasing your knowledge (it has nice descriptions of the Star Knot, Matthew Walker, and various others) and gaining some insight into the days of old, and ways to make projects that still have use and beauty in the modern time this is ONE great book to own. I was very pleased for the price. Hervey Garrett Smith did a great job and the illustrations as he points out he put them in his book because others he found were not clear, and they are a beauty too look at too. If you are just getting into Marlinspike Seasmanship/Ropework Crafts, this is a great book. I take about three with me or keep them close at hand, along with my ropeowork kit, and this is one of them.
15 people found this helpful
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SenecatE
5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
It's a quick introduction to the world of knotting, but moreso to the world of yachtsmanship.

The illustrations are endlessly helpful in getting a handle on visualizing the various procedures. The written instructions are written in an educated verbiage that some might struggle with, but this is nothing that can't be solved with some help from a dictionary.

The dry wit and overall candor of the text is quite refreshing. Since most informative texts are rather plain and seem unsympathetic to a layperson's interpretation, it does a heart good to encounter such thoughtful work. If nothing else, the book's levity will keep a complete neophyte grounded in the learning process, rather than giving up before he's even begun.

As you can tell, Smith's writing has taken its effect on me, in more ways than one.
One person found this helpful
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Woodworking Fool
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun to read but not a how-to book
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2008
Verified Purchase
Pros: It's well written and fun to read. It's full of historic information and anecdotes. The illustrations represent a wide variety of interesting projects .

Cons: The book is very uneven. Some projects are explained in details with patterns and step-by-step diagrams. Some have little or no explanation. I also noticed that some knot-tying diagrams are inaccurate and near-impossible to follow.

I recommend the book as a fun and engaging overview of marlinspike seamanship, but if you want to learn the craft, this book alone is not sufficient.
9 people found this helpful
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Eric R. Bittner
5.0 out of 5 stars A knot book for people who like to tie knots!
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those who know binary and those who do not. Similarly with sailors. There are sailors who just want the most modern, and most technically advanced solution and there are sailors who really enjoy "traditional" methods. This book is for the latter of those two populations. When I read this book, I can smell pine-tar, manila rope, sea salt, and sweat. I can hear the creaking of oak planking, Douglas fir spars, and Sea Chanties. I think I've read this book cover to cover 100 times and I still find it useful! In addition, this book has a lot of great bits of advice for improving the operation of your boat. Also, even if you are in the former camp, knowing some of the tricks HGS teaches can save you and your boat in a pinch.

So, pour yourself a mug of Grog, grab a hank of line, and turn your boat into work of nautical art!
7 people found this helpful
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Emily
5.0 out of 5 stars Good clean fun
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
I sail, I macramé, I can't see how sailors did this on a boat! Given lots of Stable space, I can do everything in this book with the nice, clear instructions and illustrations. I don't have a different book on decorative knots to compare this to, so I can't say if this book is the best of the decorative knot books... or knot! I can say I used it to add a few knots to my repertoire and have turned out some nice items with knots, like a chair back and seat. Unless you already have other books of this type, it will probably work well for you too.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ilze
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent quality, fast delivery
Reviewed in Germany on August 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
My previous attempt to get this book from another seller was unsuccesful, so I'm happy to get it.
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Bruce Beattie
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the cost.
Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a good book and the illustrations are very helpful. It's also a good thing to have if you find yourself in need of a 'productive' way to while away the hours during lockdown.
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Luiz Osório Martins
3.0 out of 5 stars O livro apresenta trabalhos realizados com o marlinspike ecita fatos históricos, interessante.
Reviewed in Brazil on December 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
O livro apresenta boa qualidade. Gostaria que o mesmo apresentasse outra forma de encadernação além do tipo brochura. Além de trazer uma parte histórica em seu conteúdo, é bem didático.
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Verdier Stephanie
5.0 out of 5 stars Des précisions sur l'Usage ,la Technique et les Origines.
Reviewed in France on August 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
Pour obtenir des précisions sur la Culture Maritime , ses Techniques et leur Histoire , les Origines...
Ceci explique celà, le pourquoi du comment....
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Tabbyiab
5.0 out of 5 stars Great beginners book and an interesting read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2014
Verified Purchase
Some other reviews have been less than charitable about this book. I disagree. This book was not published to be a comprehensive 'Bible' on fancy work. It's author's intention was to inform the beginner, in an entertaining manner, about some of the items that would have been made by the old sailors and to give them clear and easy to follow instructions on how to make some of them. It performs this function admirably. It is engagingly written, beautifully illustrated and personally I have found the pictures and text perfectly adequate to make many of the items within. If you are starting out making fancy work my advice would be to start with this book then go for something more meaty, such as Des Pawson's books which contain many more projects but that perhaps need the gentle introduction that The Marlinspike Sailor provides to get you going. Great for armchair sailors too! It is a pleasant and entertaining read and having been published in quite a large format, it will be useful for those with less than perfect eyesight as the illustrations are large and the text very clear. Well worth the small amount of money that it retails at.
4 people found this helpful
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