Knots Knowledge

[Ducati]

I now have two books about knots. (Gifts)

Time is short and brushing up on the 25-50 knots will "not" happen.

I would like to hear from others about your top 5 - 10 knots that are a "must have" as far as knots go.

Thanks

 

[JustDucky]

cleat hitch
bowline
figure 8
rolling hitch
clove hitch

 

[Paul Brinkley]

cleat hitch, square or reef knot, bowline, clove hitch, tautline (rolling?) hitch, overhand knot, 2 half-hitches, sheetbend -Paul

 

[DannyS]

Bowline, cleat hitch, figure 8, truckers hitch, prussic knot.

 

[higgs]

Double half hitches, bowline, cleat hitch, square knot, clove hitch.

I find many good boaters who do not tie the cleat hitch properly.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Mine are:
bowline
buntline hitch
cleat hitch
clove hitch
square, or reef, knot

 

[sailingdog]

cleat hitch for docking
Round turn and two half-hitches for tying up to posts, attaching fender lines, etc.
Bowlines for attaching sheets to sail clews
Buntline hitch for attaching halyards to sail head shackles
Stopper knot or figure eight knot for ends of lines to prevent them from running through line clutches
Rolling hitch is very useful for taking the load off a fouled sheet on a winch so you can unsnarl it.

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

Cleat Hitch - to not lose the boat when away. (Seems unknown to powerboaters)
Bowline - to not lose jib (or MOB, who should know how to tie it blind around self)
Buntline Hitch - to not lose halyard.
Round Turn w/2 Half Hitches - to not lose fenders when away (or boat at pilings)
Larks Head/Cow Hitch - to quickly attach/adjust fenders to lifelines when docking
Fisherman's Bend - for snubber line shackles to anchor chain snubber plate
Rolling Hitch - to take strain off sheet in jammed line clutch
Trucker's Hitch - to do secure tie-downs.

Clove Hitch - because "you're supposed to know it" (to use if you're very trusting).

Fair winds,
Al - s/v Persephone

 

[Ross]

That about covers it. I always backup a clove hitch with a half hitch on the standing part.

 

[Stu Jackson]

What dawg said.

 

[Mulf]

A picture is better but an animated picture is even more better!

http://www.animatedknots.com/

 

[Hermit Scott]

bowline-if it needs to be untied soon
buntline-if I am not untieing it soon
cow hitch-for fenders, I used to add a half hitch but don't think it's necessary anymore-probably end up buying some fenders someday, but fenders are only used while I am docking or hanging out on the boat
square knot-for tying sail ties
fisherman's knot- for the Redfish at Port aransas
thief's knot so I can tell if someone has tampered with the grog, isn't that right Ross?

 

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that a buntline hitch is rather permanent once it has been used for any decent period of time under load...and effectively can only be untied using a KNIFE.

One last knot I'd recommend, just because it is a very useful knot and almost unheard of is the Zeppelin Bend. It is a very good knot for joining lines, even of different diameters and can easily be untied, even after being heavily loaded.

 

[Ducati]

Thanks everyone for all your assistance.

Little did I know that all these years I was tying many of these knots correctly without knowing their appropriate names.

Cheers

 

[dscribner]

I have used the anchor bend on many items including rodes.

 

[cwkemp]

One last knot I'd recommend, just because it is a very useful knot and almost unheard of is the Zeppelin Bend. It is a very good knot for joining lines, even of different diameters and can easily be untied, even after being heavily loaded.[/quote]

I second the thought on the Zeppelin bend. One I use is a Hunter's bend (named after a man not the sportsman), similar to the zeppelin but a little quicker to tie and seems to work well joining synthetic lines even of slightly different diameters and construction.

 

[rfrye1]

It is always amazing to me how many folks dont know the "proper" cleat hitch. I understand struggling with other knots because we dont tie them every day.

 

[countrygent147]

Wow, I know over 30, but top ones are:
bowline
bowline on a bight
miller's knot
diamond eye splice
carrick bend (to join two pieces of line, better than sheet bend)
sheepshank
clove hitch (learn to throw one)
manrope knot (on end of a line)
taunt line hitch or timber hitch
whipping the end of a line (hate burned or taped lines)
I guess those are the ones I use the most. Oh yeah, the "tugboat bowline".

 

[Ross]

Wow, I know over 30, but top ones are:
bowline
bowline on a bight
miller's knot
diamond eye splice
carrick bend (to join two pieces of line, better than sheet bend)
sheepshank
clove hitch (learn to throw one)
manrope knot (on end of a line)
taunt line hitch or timber hitch
whipping the end of a line (hate burned or taped lines)
I guess those are the ones I use the most. Oh yeah, the "tugboat bowline".

Miller's knot-Sliipped constrictor?
Manrope knot- which one crown and wall or Mathew walker?
Taut line hitch=rolling hitch?
Timber hitch=Not rolling hitch
Sewn whipping?

 

[PBJ]

We used the following 6 basic knots teaching students in the ASA:
Bowline, Fgure Eight, Cleat Hitch, Reef / Square Knot, Clove Hitch, Round Turn and Two Half Hitches. Then we'll added the Sheet Bend, Rolling Hitch, and finally the Trucker's Hitch for the next two classes. I use the Bowline, Reef, and Trucker's knots almost daily away from the boat. I'd say these 9 would get you through most any sailing situation. If I were to name 2 knots to know in your sleep, it would be the Cleat Hitch and Bowline. The Cleat Hitch will be what you need to do to secure the boat when you're tired and cold and the Bowline will be the knot to save your life in an emergency such as someone falling overboard or needing a tow away from terra firma.