Hi, Rusty!
A transitive verb is one that takes a direct object; whereas an intransitive verb does not have an object.
Now some transitive verbs can take both a direct and an indirect object.
And some verbs , however can be both transitive and intransitive.
This may help.....
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs
It gives lots of example which might make it clearer?
Sorry to go on...but you've hit a button!
English Grammar was one of my favourite subjects at school!
That's a shame about Tommy Carberry.
He wasn't all that old, was he? had he been ill or was it sudden?
Thank you for the explanation, Ros.
I had thought that kedge was an anchor, but couldn't see how a ship was then towed.