Sailors' ropes, also known as marlinespike, are an essential tool for sailors. TYES is the four-letter answer to this crossword clue, and it stands for 'tarred yarn eye splices'. This type of rope is used to secure knots and splices in a variety of different types of rope, and is made from tarred yarn. It is an important part of a sailor's toolkit, and is used to make sure that the knots and splices stay secure while at sea.