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Get extra keen discounts and beat expensive shipping costs by buying books through this site! The free delivery service applies to most established destinations worldwide. Tying Yourself In Knots Over Knots? You Need Fewer Nautical Knots Than You Might Think
Nautical knots are deeply embedded in maritime lore. You can buy books on the subject thick enough to choke elephants – nautical knots of baffling complexity, dazzling decorative splendour and, unfortunately, many of dubious usefulness. For the student knotter (if there is such a creature) it can all be rather intimidating. But once you get involved knot tying can become addictive.
The good news for the beginner is that there are only seven knots that are really important, with the others being consigned to the second division of those that would only be useful very occasionally. For example, as a young lad in the Boy Scouts I was taught to tie a ‘sheepshank’ (a knot purporting to shorten ropes) and, in a seagoing career spanning over fifty years, I've never once seen it used in practice. As a nautical knot it is practically useless.
Before we move on it’s worth trying to distinguish between knots, bends, and hitches – no easy task since the distinctions are blurred and often overlap. However – and at the considerable risk of being contradicted – here are the generalities:
- Knots is a word often used as a general term but more specifically knots are used to tie a line around something, like the string around a parcel or a sail tie around the mainsail.
- Bends are primarily intended for tying two ropes together.
- Hitches are used to tie ropes to other objects, such as rails and mooring rings.
Whatever the knot, it must satisfy two important qualities: it must be secure when tied and it must be capable of being untied – even after pulled very tight under load. Knots that jam have no place on a boat.
So, in no particular order...
Bowline: Pronounced ‘bow-lin’ with the ‘bow’ as in bow and arrow. This is the king of knots with more applications than can be listed here. It’s most common purpose is to form loops. The tying sequence if often (and rather nauseatingly) described as 'the rabbit (meaning the tag end) comes out its hole, goes round the tree and back down the hole'. Although not difficult to tie, it’s very easy to get it wrong so it must look exactly like the drawing here.
Clove hitch: Commonly used for securing fender lanyards to guardwires and any similar undemanding applications. Again the hitch should look exactly as shown here, with both ends of the rope emerging from opposite sides. If it doesn't you have probably tied a 'cow hitch' which is nothing like as secure.
Round turn and two half hitches: Much safer than a clove hitch this is one of the best ways (the other notable one being a bowline) of tying a dinghy painter to a mooring ring. Note that the tag end forms a clove hitch around the standing part.
Rolling hitch: A close relative of the clove hitch. An extra locking turn inside the knot helps prevent the hitch for sliding along whatever it’s secured to. Invaluable for temporarily taking the load of, say, a genoa sheet while you sort out those infuriating riding turns on a winch.
Sheet bend: Used to tie two ropes together. A variation is the ‘double sheet bend’ (far right) which is less likely to shake loose.
Reef knot: ‘Right over left and under, left over right and under’ goes the saying and describes the tying procedure well. If it doesn’t look flat like the drawing, you’ve tied a ‘granny knot’ which is vastly inferior.
Figure of eight: Not a lot of use on powerboats but this useful ‘stopper knot’ is the one that prevents your halyards disappearing up inside your mast. Never, ever, use a simple ‘overhand knot’ that will jam solid in an instant.Also of interest ...?
The ropes on a sailboat are many and varied. Find out more about them by going to page MARINE ropes
Seamanship & Boatcraft Nautical Knots, The Important Ones to Know
