I love the ropework picture frame the captain made on one of his voyages. The photo is a postcard of Freiburg, Germany from one of my son’s visits:My merchant seaman belongs to International Guild of Knot Tyers based in England. They are an educational non-profit organization dedicated to furthering interest in practical, recreational, and theoretical aspects of knotting. Their aim is to preserve traditional knotting techniques and promote the development of new techniques for new material and applications. He also brings home beautiful charts from far away.A nautical chart is one of the most fundamental tools available to the mariner. It’s a graphic portrayal of the marine environment showing the nature and form of the coast, the general configuration of the sea bottom, including water depths, locations of dangers to navigation, locations and characteristics of human-made aids to navigation, and other features useful to the mariner. The nautical chart is essential for safe navigation. In conjunction with supplemental navigational aids, it is used by the mariner to lay out courses and navigate ships by the shortest and most economically safe route. Over 98 percent of the nation’s cargo is carried by waterborne transportation—and all of those ships rely on nautical charts to find their way. (NOAA)

Even though there are electronic methods of charting, a good seaman will always update his paper charts the old-fashioned way. Just like with GPS, equipment can break down, and it is so important to be an expert in Celestial Navigation, like my guy, who has taught it at various maritime schools.

I like to figure out new uses for unusual things—like charts. I have used them as mats for pictures and I read in a Martha Stewart Magazine about using charts on the ceiling, but Captain Cranky said he sees enough charts while he’s gone and the last thing he wants to do is lay in bed and look up and see them there, too, so I’ve got a ways to go before that happens.

I thought it would be really creative to find a way to use them as flooring tiles for a bathroom,  but have yet to discovered how to do it. Any suggestions?

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• Marlinspike Seamanship as Art (enchantedseashells.com)