Hervey Garrett Smith was the foremost marine illustrator of the 1950s & 1960s, & 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, & rolling hitch, among others
- & splices in three-strand & braided rope. But its real business is decorative rope & canvaswork
- the traditional arts of the sailor
- & here it has no equal. For a rope mat, a rope ladder, a sea chest, a ditty bag, a canvas bucket, a mast boot, & the best-looking rope fenders or heaving line in the marina, this is the book of choice.