Belaying Pin - Other Uses

Other Uses

  • Belaying pins were apparently commonly used as improvised weapons (as well as a method of discipline) on both military and civilian ships. Certainly their shape and weight would make a formidable short-range club.
  • Belaying pin splice (specialty method of performing emergency rejoining of ship's rigging), where a belaying pin, marlinspike, or other short bar of strong material is used to hold two eye-loops of rope together.
  • A belaying pin can also be tied to the end of a line being thrown, the extra weight helping it carry further. This is also an improvised use - the proper tool for the job is a monkey's fist - a lump of woven rope forming a small but heavy ball with a loop for attaching the end of a line.

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