Painter (rope)

A painter is a rope that is attached to the bow of a dinghy, or other small boat, and used for tying up or towing.^[1] Ideally, the painter should float. If used on a boat with a propeller, the length of the painter should be shorter than the distance to the propeller, to prevent fouling the engine.^[2]

Canoeing

Canoes being used in moving water or whitewater are rigged with a painter at both the bow and stern.^[3] In addition to the functions mentioned above, a canoe's painters can be used for lining the boat down difficult sections,^[4] self-rescue,^[5] and boat recovery.^[6]

See also

• Knot
• List of hitch knots
• List of knots

References

1. Husick, Charles B. (2009). Chapman Piloting and Seamanship (66th ed.). New York: Hearst Books. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-58816-744-6.
2. "What to do when you have a fouled prop". TradeABoat.co.nz. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
3. Grant, Gordon (1997). Canoeing: A Trailside Guide (1st ed.). New York: W.W. Norton. p. 111. ISBN 0-393-31489-8.
4. Callan, Kevin (2012). "The Art of Lining a Canoe". Paddling.net. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
5. Grant (1997), p. 115
6. Bechdel, Les; Ray, Slim (1989), River Rescue (2nd ed.), Boston: AMC Books, pp. 97–98, ISBN 0-910146-76-4.