Snubbers, Snatchers, strings and ropes

Making sense of some of the miles and miles of functional rope work that is used on a pair of working boats. I thought that being as I had written about the decorative rope work on working boats then it was only fair that I blob on about the working rope work. First of all the diameter of a particular rope will determine whether it is called a rope, a line or a string, smaller diameters are usually termed strings

Cross straps – two short ropes of equal length with an eye spliced on each end. About three inches shorter than the height from water level to the fore deck stud. Used for towing an empty butty where one strap is fitted to each towing dolly on the motor boat then they cross each other before fitting over the fore stud on the butty. Using cross straps eliminates the need for anyone to steer the butty apart from in tight situations such as making 90 degree turns etc.

Snubber – At least 90 foot long usually has a loop spliced on one end and a back splice on the other. Used for towing a loaded butty when on long clear pounds. When underway but not in use, locks etc. it is coiled and placed carefully on the butty deck with the end conveniently placed for picking up by the motor steerer in passing the butty deck.

Snatcher – Only about 25foot long and usually has a loop spliced on one end and a loop or back splice on the other. It is used for working a pair through a heavily locked sections of canal. Not to be confused with ‘snatching’ a butty when it is grounded, for this a snubber is usually used.

Uphill/downhill runners – 30ft long with eye splice one end which is fitted to the shackle on the anser pin and a back splice on the other. These are used to put a couple of turns round the strapping posts at locks to stop the boats forward motion. (brakes)


Top strings – About 16 feet long and 3/8 inch diameter, having a back splice one end and an eye spliced on the other with a hook fixed to it. The hook fixes into a ring fitted to the gunnel, then crosses over the top of the cloths/planks to a ring in the opposite gunnel which it passes through then returns up to the top where it is tied off around itself.

Breeching strings – Short strings about 12 inches long and 3/8 inch diameter with an eye splice one end and a back splice the other. The eye splice is fixed to the underside of the gunnel by means of a staple about every yard along both side of the hold. These are used for holding the rolled side cloths in position on top of the gunnel.

Girding strings – These are about 25 feet long and 3/8 inch diameter with a back splice one end and an eye splice the other. They are used between the cross beams and the top planks to secure the top planks in position.

Mast Lines -A rope that is used to open the bottom gates of a double lock when going down hill, called thumblining. It has a eye splice on one end and a back splice on the other and are about 20 foot in length

Tying strings – (Stern & Bows) back splice one end and eye splice on the other, long enough to reach from boat to bank and back or boat to boat and back with extra length for tying.

Back end rope – used for temporarily holding a motor boat enabling a single point for mooring whilst waiting for a lock to set etc.

Tiller strings – short strings fixed to the cabin top each side of the back cabin with a loop spliced in the end which is fitted over the end of the tiller bar to hold it in position if left unattended. Boatmen have been known to put the bows over to the side of a tunnel by putting the tiller bar into the tiller string and going down into the cabin and letting the boat’s bows ‘rub’ through.

Bridal string – A short length of rope with a loop over the front stud and the other end fixed to the tow line of a horse boat. On the straight the bridal does nothing, but when it comes to a very tight turn, the horse pulls the boat from the front stud instead of the top mast assisting it round the tight turn. Typically used on the twisty and turny Oxford canal.

So that’s about it. As you can see this involved quite an array of rope work and in all cases involved back splices and eye splices, so (Chertsey Woman) it is essential that one of the skills that all people with working boats must acquire is that of splicing. I feel another blog coming on.
Dow bang ‘em about
Blossom