Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Jun, 2011
Watch here for information about a meeting proposed to be held in January, 2012 in Indianapolis
Monday, May 2, 2011
May, 2011
I haven't been doing too much knotting lately. The year 2011 has brought with it a lot of family stuff (thankfully, good family stuff) and quite a bit of dock line splicing, so the decorative stuff has been pushed to the back burner until after a few of the grand children's high school graduations in Alabama (late May) and upstate New York (late June).
It was a long, tough winter and spring up here in the New York City area, with a lot of very high winds and tides. Many of the boaters here who didn't want to or couldn't afford to replace their dock lines last fall are finally realizing that if they don't do something with their damaged lines now, they will end up paying the piper down the road when their lines part and their boats break loose and sink or drift up on the rocks.
This is only my personal opinion, but I think it is only a matter of time before boat insurers are going to want to see proof that dock lines were in good condition before they pay off on claims resulting from parted lines. Heck, auto insurers now want proof that a driver was not on a cell phone call or texting at the time of an accident before they will pay off on a claim, so I doubt boat insurers will be far behind in that regard.
I have developed a rope log I maintain for each customer whose lines I splice. I keep it on my computer, and I notify the customer when his or her ropes reach a certain age. I also developed instructions for maintaining ropes in good condition and I am thinking about offering a rope cleaning and inspection service. After decades of pleasure and commercial boating experience, I have come to accept that rope is an integral part of a boat's safety equipment. It can save a boat and more importantly, save lives.
During the winter I bought an inexpensive folding wooden snack tray/table which I am currently converting to a portable knot tying bench. The conversion involves bracing the table (some of the rope I splice is quite heavy, a bit of additional bracing is needed to stabilize the table). In addition, I am adding a carry handle, a rack to hold pliers, fids, knives and picks, a rafter square to make two dimensional measurements, lumber to make it easier to clamp on my Zyliss vise which I use to hold my Brion Toss splicing wands when splicing double braids. I need to drill some holes so that I can attach my monkey fist and other jigs, a clamp I made to use for braiding, a cord measuring device and an socket for a small light and Dremel tool. Rubber chair leg bottoms will be added to prevent scratching boat decks when I take my work table with me.
I pilferred the idea from Vince Brennan, as I am somewhat cramped for space here in my apartment, and the table when open can be used anywhere in my apartment without getting in my wife's way. When folded it will store nicely between my computer desk and a wall. It fits right next to and is the perfect height for my computer desk chair. I can easily tote it to my back porch or the back yard if I decide to work out there, and I can take it with me when I baby sit my grandchildren or go to a knot meeting, craft fair or show. Nothing peaks people's interest, or makes them dig deep into their pockets, more than watching me splice rope, tie knots or make rope jewelry and objects d'arte. I have a very nice Craftsman combination folding work table/vise, but it is too way heavy to carry with me... although I did take it with me when the project required a heavy table and if it was going to last more than one day or so. I am trying to figure a way to add a cooler and beer tap, and will probably request bids for designs, plans and construction.
I have acquired a beautiful 24" double rimmed ships wheel that came off a derelict vessel that sunk in Jamaica Bay, just West of JFK airport that I plan to wrap. As part of a Jamaica Bay clean up initiative, derelict vessels are being rounded up and towed to the old sea plane ramp at the old Floyd Bennett naval air base where they are dragged out of the water, cut up and carted away. (Beware, the United States Park Police pull the serial number from the abandoned or derelict vessel, track down the owners and send them a bill for the cost of removal. Somehow, I ended up with the wheel from this particular vessel before it was scrapped. It should clean up nicely, and look great hanging on my wall. I plan to wrap it with #24 cotton 3-strand cord which I bought from Martin Combs.
Cap't. Walter M. Seltzer
The Knot Knut
It was a long, tough winter and spring up here in the New York City area, with a lot of very high winds and tides. Many of the boaters here who didn't want to or couldn't afford to replace their dock lines last fall are finally realizing that if they don't do something with their damaged lines now, they will end up paying the piper down the road when their lines part and their boats break loose and sink or drift up on the rocks.
This is only my personal opinion, but I think it is only a matter of time before boat insurers are going to want to see proof that dock lines were in good condition before they pay off on claims resulting from parted lines. Heck, auto insurers now want proof that a driver was not on a cell phone call or texting at the time of an accident before they will pay off on a claim, so I doubt boat insurers will be far behind in that regard.
I have developed a rope log I maintain for each customer whose lines I splice. I keep it on my computer, and I notify the customer when his or her ropes reach a certain age. I also developed instructions for maintaining ropes in good condition and I am thinking about offering a rope cleaning and inspection service. After decades of pleasure and commercial boating experience, I have come to accept that rope is an integral part of a boat's safety equipment. It can save a boat and more importantly, save lives.
During the winter I bought an inexpensive folding wooden snack tray/table which I am currently converting to a portable knot tying bench. The conversion involves bracing the table (some of the rope I splice is quite heavy, a bit of additional bracing is needed to stabilize the table). In addition, I am adding a carry handle, a rack to hold pliers, fids, knives and picks, a rafter square to make two dimensional measurements, lumber to make it easier to clamp on my Zyliss vise which I use to hold my Brion Toss splicing wands when splicing double braids. I need to drill some holes so that I can attach my monkey fist and other jigs, a clamp I made to use for braiding, a cord measuring device and an socket for a small light and Dremel tool. Rubber chair leg bottoms will be added to prevent scratching boat decks when I take my work table with me.
I pilferred the idea from Vince Brennan, as I am somewhat cramped for space here in my apartment, and the table when open can be used anywhere in my apartment without getting in my wife's way. When folded it will store nicely between my computer desk and a wall. It fits right next to and is the perfect height for my computer desk chair. I can easily tote it to my back porch or the back yard if I decide to work out there, and I can take it with me when I baby sit my grandchildren or go to a knot meeting, craft fair or show. Nothing peaks people's interest, or makes them dig deep into their pockets, more than watching me splice rope, tie knots or make rope jewelry and objects d'arte. I have a very nice Craftsman combination folding work table/vise, but it is too way heavy to carry with me... although I did take it with me when the project required a heavy table and if it was going to last more than one day or so. I am trying to figure a way to add a cooler and beer tap, and will probably request bids for designs, plans and construction.
I have acquired a beautiful 24" double rimmed ships wheel that came off a derelict vessel that sunk in Jamaica Bay, just West of JFK airport that I plan to wrap. As part of a Jamaica Bay clean up initiative, derelict vessels are being rounded up and towed to the old sea plane ramp at the old Floyd Bennett naval air base where they are dragged out of the water, cut up and carted away. (Beware, the United States Park Police pull the serial number from the abandoned or derelict vessel, track down the owners and send them a bill for the cost of removal. Somehow, I ended up with the wheel from this particular vessel before it was scrapped. It should clean up nicely, and look great hanging on my wall. I plan to wrap it with #24 cotton 3-strand cord which I bought from Martin Combs.
Cap't. Walter M. Seltzer
The Knot Knut
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Jan, 2011
Welcome, everybody, to the year 2011. I hope it turns out to be your best ever. Let the knot gods look kindly on you.
On December 5th - 7th, 2010, I attended the IGKT - NAB mini-meeting held in St. Michaels, Maryland. It turned out to be a wonderful event... large enough for two dozen give or take knotters to display oodles of their wonderful craft, yet small enough so that one could spend quite a bit of one-on-one time with each of the tyers learning how to improve their own craft. Oh, yeah, and spend lots of money on rope and tools, etc. The sun shone through the gigantic windows looking out on the Chesapeake Bay.
This was my third IGKT event, and I loved all of them - i.e., New Bedford, Baltimore and now, St. Michaels. But for me, given my minimal level of skill, I benefited from this particular meeting the most. I learned to make a cross from Marty Combs, coxcombing from Vince Brennan, Turks Heads from Tim Alwine and other things like Matthew Walker knots, wall & crown knots, etc. And I got to drool all over the great tools crafted by P.J. Nelson ("Peejay"). Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy some wonderful rope working tools. Marty, Vince and Peejay are the legendary names you see in knotting forums like KHWW, etc. The schoolbus man, Jim Torbert, was down from Delaware and some people came in from Mississippi, Canada and California. Some great restaurants were a mere 15 minute drive from the hotel most of us stayed in, and the meeting room at the hotel was huge. No big boxes and bags of cord, though, as Bob Dollar was unable to make it down. By the end of the weekend, just about the entire hotel staff were tying sailor's bracelets thanks to Matt Boudain and his wife.
I think there might be a repeat of this meeting in December, 2011, and this time my wife will attend with me. She will enjoy the midnight madness, where all the quaint boutique-typ shops in beautiful downtown St. Michaels, on the Eastern shore of Maryland, remained open for midnight shopping. It was a very festive Christmas atmosphere and most people seemed to enjoy.
I am still going through my Christmas presents which consisted of Lindsey Philpot's book on decorative knots, and J.D. Lenzen's (TIAT) book on decorative fusion knots, plus Don Burrhus' wonderful globe knot and turk's head kits, cook books and tools. Not too bad a cache for a Jewish boy from Brooklyn. I can already see where I will be staying out of my wife's hair, cooped up in my computer room, and tying beautiful professional looking globe, pineapple and turks head knots in very short order. Who would have thunk it?
I ventured from Brooklyn into Manhattan a few weeks ago via subway and found, all within a few blocks of each other, a number of fairly huge stores that carried all kinds of beads, jewelry findings, tools and cord that interested me. I ran out of browsing time, but I plan go back there soon with money in my pocket. A credit card would pose a serious danger to me; my card limits could creep up on me quite quickly. Hmm. I wonder which will run out first... my money or my browsing time.
I will post website addresses and information so that you all can see for yourselves what these places carry. If they don't do mail order, I will be happy to take your order and payment, and I will buy the stuff and ship it out to you. I was particularly interested in magnetic cord-ends for necklaces and posts to make earrings with, as well as some unique pendants. As you can tell, there are lots of girls and women in my family to whom lots of necklaces, bracelets and earrings will go.
Cap't. Walter M. Seltzer
The Knot Knut
On December 5th - 7th, 2010, I attended the IGKT - NAB mini-meeting held in St. Michaels, Maryland. It turned out to be a wonderful event... large enough for two dozen give or take knotters to display oodles of their wonderful craft, yet small enough so that one could spend quite a bit of one-on-one time with each of the tyers learning how to improve their own craft. Oh, yeah, and spend lots of money on rope and tools, etc. The sun shone through the gigantic windows looking out on the Chesapeake Bay.
This was my third IGKT event, and I loved all of them - i.e., New Bedford, Baltimore and now, St. Michaels. But for me, given my minimal level of skill, I benefited from this particular meeting the most. I learned to make a cross from Marty Combs, coxcombing from Vince Brennan, Turks Heads from Tim Alwine and other things like Matthew Walker knots, wall & crown knots, etc. And I got to drool all over the great tools crafted by P.J. Nelson ("Peejay"). Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy some wonderful rope working tools. Marty, Vince and Peejay are the legendary names you see in knotting forums like KHWW, etc. The schoolbus man, Jim Torbert, was down from Delaware and some people came in from Mississippi, Canada and California. Some great restaurants were a mere 15 minute drive from the hotel most of us stayed in, and the meeting room at the hotel was huge. No big boxes and bags of cord, though, as Bob Dollar was unable to make it down. By the end of the weekend, just about the entire hotel staff were tying sailor's bracelets thanks to Matt Boudain and his wife.
I think there might be a repeat of this meeting in December, 2011, and this time my wife will attend with me. She will enjoy the midnight madness, where all the quaint boutique-typ shops in beautiful downtown St. Michaels, on the Eastern shore of Maryland, remained open for midnight shopping. It was a very festive Christmas atmosphere and most people seemed to enjoy.
I am still going through my Christmas presents which consisted of Lindsey Philpot's book on decorative knots, and J.D. Lenzen's (TIAT) book on decorative fusion knots, plus Don Burrhus' wonderful globe knot and turk's head kits, cook books and tools. Not too bad a cache for a Jewish boy from Brooklyn. I can already see where I will be staying out of my wife's hair, cooped up in my computer room, and tying beautiful professional looking globe, pineapple and turks head knots in very short order. Who would have thunk it?
I ventured from Brooklyn into Manhattan a few weeks ago via subway and found, all within a few blocks of each other, a number of fairly huge stores that carried all kinds of beads, jewelry findings, tools and cord that interested me. I ran out of browsing time, but I plan go back there soon with money in my pocket. A credit card would pose a serious danger to me; my card limits could creep up on me quite quickly. Hmm. I wonder which will run out first... my money or my browsing time.
I will post website addresses and information so that you all can see for yourselves what these places carry. If they don't do mail order, I will be happy to take your order and payment, and I will buy the stuff and ship it out to you. I was particularly interested in magnetic cord-ends for necklaces and posts to make earrings with, as well as some unique pendants. As you can tell, there are lots of girls and women in my family to whom lots of necklaces, bracelets and earrings will go.
Cap't. Walter M. Seltzer
The Knot Knut
Thursday, May 13, 2010
May, 2010
I created "The Knot Knut" as a place on which to display, memorialize and share my rope and knot work and to meet, hear from and see the works of others who have a passion and enthusiasm for ropes and knots. Also because I finally learned what a blog was and figured out how to create one.
I retired as a corporate tax professional after nearly 45 years in the business and corporate world, and turned to the sea to earn my living after being caught up on the 82nd floor of the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001 attacks. I decided right then and there that I would rather be on a boat looking up at the tall buildings than being up in a tall building looking down at the boats.
In 2003, I made my move. I began operating small cruise ships, water taxis and ferries, tugs, launches, fishing and dinner-cruise boats as a United States Coast Guard Licensed Master (40+ years licensed) until I semi-retired, became The Knot Knut and founded Creative Rope Designs to splice ropes, tie decorative knots and pass my knowledge along to others... and also to allow me plenty of time to spend with my wife, children and step-children and grand- and great-grand children.
I hope you enjoy my blog and benefit from it.
Cap't. Walter M. Seltzer
The Knot Knut
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