Origin of Cutting the lines

[ItDepends]

Learning sailing by watching youtubbers is a bad idea, although there is an awful lot to learn about how NOT to do things...

[capt jgw]

Yea, it just means you're leaving and not coming back. The YouTube thing is just grandstanding, and they probably switched to some junk lines before doing it. Anything to get more views.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

"she's a cute Sheila"...

And not at all stuck up!

"It's hot enough to boil a monkey's bum in here, your Majesty," he said and she smiled quietly to herself.

[Shrew]

It's a euphemism, like:

swallowing the anchor
kicking the bucket
coughing up the money
blowing up someone's phone
kicking the door in
waiting for the other shoe to drop

If someone decided to actually cut the lines to symbolically showing their commitment to their change in lifestyle, that is great! Completely unnecessary, but fun. Like having some goofy 'Renaming Ceremony'.

[MicHughV]

looks like we got that settled then...and if anyone disagree's, I'll have to " whup de tar outa you"....

[Free2Sail]

Originally Posted by Morganministry

Does anyone know how or where the custom of literally cutting the dock lines comes from. I have seen a couple YouTubers do it when they start their voyage. I tried a few different Google searches and can't find anything on it.

Thanks,
Scott

We just chop the dock lines off with a battle axe when we leave the dock, e.g., for an sunset sail. Cutting the lines with a knife is too slow.

[Adelie]

A cutting out party was when pirates or thieves would cut the mooring lines or anchor lines to speed the process. Or one navy would steal or steal back a ship in the service of another navy.

Example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuttin...ne?wprov=sfti1
I suspect YT & TT folks are doing it as clickbait.

[Jamme]

It’s unexplainable. Like Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire.
(Just kidding, obviously)

[lo2jones]

I’m with you on the “dumb habit” reply. Even if the dock lines were “permanent” meaning shackled on the dock end, unshackling or leaving them for the next occupant seems like a nice thing to do.

[carstenb]

Of course, we all know the origins of:

Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey


Or why a well-known and favored jacket is called a "Blazer"

or do we?

Here's a final one

Why is a tot of rum in the british navy called a "tot of grog"?

[JebLostInSpace]

Sure it's silly and has little connection to any historical custom or tradition, but why get all judgmental about it? Like Shrew says, it sounds like some people are doing it to mark the moment of leaving the dock and embarking on their grand adventure, and to demonstrate their commitment to said grand adventure. What's wrong with that? I mean, definitely swap your real dock lines out for some cheap crap for the "ceremony" but it could be fun!

I did the full nonsensical renaming ceremony on my boat, not because I thought Poseidon would literally get mad that my boat's name was not in his ledger, but because it was a fun excuse to get some people together and go out for a short sail while commemorating what was a big life change for me. Not totally unlike a housewarming party for the landbound folks.

And why can't we have a new maritime tradition build up? Just because the royal navy didn't do it in 1796 doesn't mean it can't be meaningful and fun for folks today. I say let the youtubers be silly and get their views.

[arcticmonkey]

all said and done I find the metaphor and the act of " cutting " the lines a wonderfully symbolic act... what better way to set out on your journey severing the ties to dock life for what may be the biggest adventure of your life
If you can't find a length of dock line somewhere in your hoard of stowed lines
maybe you just ain't ready yet

[mf70]

Aside from dumb and expensive, it's privileged and thoughtless: where are the "little people" that are going to come down to the dock and clean up the leftovers clogging the cleats?

[WindintheWillow]

In a naval cutting out operation, you would cut the anchor line or dock lines so as to get free as quickly as possible - read Marryat, Forester, O'Brien - fabulous stuff.

[Dayton40]

Cruising for a while now, one of the ideas among the group is to keep a a hatchet on board. High current situations even on docks, if the boat gets away there is a need to cut a line quickly.