Difference between revisions of "Knots"

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Learning how to tie knots and handle rope properly are essential skills to safe boating.  Generally speaking, a good knot not only holds whatever it is designed to, but is also easy to untie.  You need learn only a few knots to drastically improve your abilities on the water.  Sailors will disagree over which knots are "best" to learn, but the knots below are reasonable choices and learning them well will drastically improve your capabilities on the waterMany of them are also useful for other outdoor activities, such as hiking, climbing, and camping, so you will likely be able to use them outside of Ephemerisle.
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Generally speaking a good knot not only holds whatever it is designed to, but is also easy to untie.  Knots on top of knots on top of knots, shows a lack of confidence that the original knot will holdAnd we've seen a lot of bad knots through the years of Ephemerisle.
  
When reading knot-tying tutorials, you will likely encounter unfamiliar  [https://www.animatedknots.com/terminology.php rope terminology], such as "bight", "bend", and "hitch".  Learning this vocabulary is worthwhile, as it will help you understand tutorials, and communicate precisely when training others.
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== Everyone should know these ==
  
== Knots everyone should know ==
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMwXjckgiOs Cleat Hitch] - Used for attaching anchors lines or dock lines to a cleat.  
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* [http://youtu.be/YXRnPES0Qec?t=5s Bowline] - Forms a loop which holds perfectly, yet unties almost effortlessly and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDZOYUZabV4&t=5s bowline on a bight] is a bowline where you don't have access to the end of the line.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_CwsRKZOJE Bowline] - Versatile knot which forms a strong loop, yet unties easily even after being under load. If you learn only one knot, learn this one!
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ssa22v4fxE Round turn with two half-hitches] - Great knot for attaching to almost anything.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7XGTIcQImQ Cleat Hitch] - Used for attaching anchor rodes or dock lines to a cleat. 
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDZOYUZabV4&t=5s Bowline on a Bight] - Another way of tying a bowline when you don't have access to the end of the line.
 
* [https://www.animatedknots.com/doubleoverhand/index.php Double Overhand Stopper Knot] -  Stopper knot used to prevent the end of a line from slipping through a block.  It is also an element of the Double Fisherman's Knot, which is commonly used to tie two ropes together (see below). 
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UjBGZu7UQg Slipped Buntline Hitch] - A good temporary knot which will hold, but comes undone with one pull.  Useful for temporarily tying up a dinghy or a kayak.
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wsEu-jPOXY Clove Hitch] - A temporary knot used to tie and adjust fenders. 
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmT4GMQXeYY Butterfly Coil] - Ropes and lines must be coiled and stored properly, or else they will knot and tangle, making it difficult or impossible to deploy when needed.  The butterfly coil is one method of of coiling rope so that it can be stored and deployed without twists/knots.  If you have a very long rope, or limited arm strength, you can [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfvioMwTVUo butterfly coil the rope over your neck], instead of your arm.
 
  
== Other important knots ==  
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== Other good knots for Ephemerisle ==
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtzeIQjcKEs&t=5s Figure 8] -  Stopper knot
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwdZTHu5rTI#t=5s Clove Hitch] - To tie off a line to a post, or railing.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAUCmnOV1kI Slipped Reef Knot] - A good temporary knot which will hold, but comes undone with one pull. 
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N6blmw006U&t=5s Trucker's Hitch] - To tightly ratchet down a line around something. 
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== Extra credit ==
  
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkepmm-5pNQ Trucker's Hitch] - To tightly ratchet down a line around cargo (such as a backpack, kayak, etc.)
 
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6oJwedcb18&t=5s Double Fisherman's Knot] - A good way of attaching two lines together
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6oJwedcb18&t=5s Double Fisherman's Knot] - A good way of attaching two lines together
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stSVqdQFtfs Icicle Hitch]- A gripping hitch.  Can be used to relieve or distribute pressure on an anchor line, or to tie off a line securely to a post, or railing.  [https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/35_8/features/Gripping-Hitches_5815-1.html Practical Sailor tests] found it to be better than other gripping hitches, such as the rolling hitch.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4mHoUNHoO0&t=5s Rolling Hitch] - To tie one line onto another - can be used to relieve or distribute pressure on an anchor line.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6mYTuyxno0&t=30s Buntline hitch] - Used for securing lines to halyards and shackles.   
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB-cinaUy2s Sheet bend] - Great for tying together to ropes of different sizesIt's actually identical to a bowline, just using to ropes.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRNtJeA9P4w Anchor hitch] - Used for attaching anchor rodes to anchor shackles.
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* Additional boating knots are listed on [http://www.animatedknots.com/indexboating.php Animated Knots].
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== Getting Salty ==
  
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[https://www.indexjournal.com/lifestyles/columnists/curiosity-corner/curiosity-corner-feeling-salty-here-s-what-that-means/article_563378db-ecff-579e-ac1d-b33a1f000398.html Salty...]
  
Additional boating knots are listed on [http://www.animatedknots.com/indexboating.php Animated Knots]. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI0GO86KmsQ&t=3s 5 Essential Sailing Knots] shows how to use some of them in practice.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi6uV56wXTk Monkey fist] - A nice decorative knot to tie on the end of a line which gives it weight for throwing.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeYBkMCQ8WY Splicing 3 strand] - Permanently attaching two lines together with very little loss of line strength, or attaching a line to itself.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ib2tF-M0sg Common whipping] or [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJDCC7dCSyg Sailmaker's whipping] - Ways to use thread to keep the end of ropes from fraying.  Electrical or gorilla tape works pretty well too, but a whipping is much more stylish.

Latest revision as of 21:39, 27 September 2021

Generally speaking a good knot not only holds whatever it is designed to, but is also easy to untie. Knots on top of knots on top of knots, shows a lack of confidence that the original knot will hold. And we've seen a lot of bad knots through the years of Ephemerisle.

Everyone should know these

Other good knots for Ephemerisle

Extra credit

  • Double Fisherman's Knot - A good way of attaching two lines together
  • Rolling Hitch - To tie one line onto another - can be used to relieve or distribute pressure on an anchor line.
  • Sheet bend - Great for tying together to ropes of different sizes. It's actually identical to a bowline, just using to ropes.
  • Additional boating knots are listed on Animated Knots.

Getting Salty

Salty...

  • Monkey fist - A nice decorative knot to tie on the end of a line which gives it weight for throwing.
  • Splicing 3 strand - Permanently attaching two lines together with very little loss of line strength, or attaching a line to itself.
  • Common whipping or Sailmaker's whipping - Ways to use thread to keep the end of ropes from fraying. Electrical or gorilla tape works pretty well too, but a whipping is much more stylish.