Shield "Bar" Requirements

[hausser]

I ended up, after three years, with a "100 Honor Shield" with four bars. One was "Archery" - obtained I imagine by being in the "Pow-wow" Day finals for two years, and another for "Indian Lore" - probably a "Gimme," as I certainly don't remember doing anything special to get it!

My "area" of interest was always the waterfront, with both the "Able Seaman" and "Skipper" bars.

I believe the requirements included a "practical skill" test with one of the sailing counselors, possibly a question and answer period with a similar counselor dealing with "Right of Way" rules, boat parts, and similar, possibly a "swimming" level achievement, either two of four "work honors" (usually shovelling sand or draining the "swamp" behind the boathouse!) and a demonstration of knot tieing abilities.

I remember the knots, as displayed on two different boards by the counselor's office, as:

Square Knot

Granny Knot (NOT politically correct anymore?)

Bowline (The most practical!)

Clove Hitch (Also good around the horses)

Half-Hitch

Double Half Hitch

Tautline Hitch

Slip knot

Sheet Bend (For tieing "lines" of different sizes together.)

Sheet Shank (NEVER used while there, but it made sense to me as to it's purpose later in life.)

"Figure-8" knot

Crown Splice

Eye Splice

Short Splice

and the one never done - "Long" splice

I still use most of these "knots" and waste time, and impress my guests on my Lake Powell Houseboat, with doing the various splices! Valuable lessons were learned!

- Bob "Running Deer" Hausser '56 - '58

 

[Marc]

But do you remember what each knot was 'good for' (when and why to use it as opposed to another knot)? I sure don't. I was never much of a knot person.