There seems to be some confusion between Marlinspike Seamanship and marlinspike as a tool. I am a Knot Tyer/Square Rig Sailor and I can tell you that Marlinspike Seamanship is alot more than fancy knotwork it includes baisc seamanship knots: bowline, reef knot, buntline hitch, etc, and it also includes splicing, seizing, lashing, coiling, whipping, worming, parceling, and serving line. Marlinspike Seamanship also uses many different tools like: the marlinspike of course, the heaving mallet, the rigging knife, fids, a heaver, a serving stick or mallet. Marlinspike Seamanship is the skill of handling line/rope correctly aboard ship be it belaying a line, tying a knot, or Ballantine coiling a halyard.