Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Knots, as a way of joining rope without special equipment, are useful in many situations. On a sailboat, knots are essential both for daily use and for emergency repairs. This instructable describes several different common knots:, e.g.
Sheet Bend - to tie two lines together
Bowline - to make a loop
Reef Knot - to fasten a bundle of material
Fishermans Bend - to secure a line to a post or ring
These knots are good for regular rope - braided or 3-strand polyester or natural fibre (hemp, sisal). Monofilament (fishing line) or steel cable performs better with different knots.
Knots are typically quite a lot weaker than straight rope - when rope goes around a tight radius, such as in a knot, the outside is under more tension than the inside. Splices (which require special tools, and are time-consuming to make) are stronger, so permanent fittings usually have eye-splices
Sheet Bend - to tie two lines together
Bowline - to make a loop
Reef Knot - to fasten a bundle of material
Fishermans Bend - to secure a line to a post or ring
These knots are good for regular rope - braided or 3-strand polyester or natural fibre (hemp, sisal). Monofilament (fishing line) or steel cable performs better with different knots.
Knots are typically quite a lot weaker than straight rope - when rope goes around a tight radius, such as in a knot, the outside is under more tension than the inside. Splices (which require special tools, and are time-consuming to make) are stronger, so permanent fittings usually have eye-splices
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Sheet Bend
The sheet bend is used to tie two lines together. It is perhaps the most generally useful knot of all. When used to tie a line to itself, making a loop, it is called a bowline.
The strain is taken on the ropes in the middle - not the one coming out the side.
How the knot is made is not critical - it is the final shape that is important. One can make the flat loop first, and work the other rope around it. Or one can make the crossed loop first - required when tying a bowline.
The two images show front and back views of the same knot
Advantages:
Easy to make
Easy to undo when tension is removed
Does not easily capsize
Disadvantages:
Hard to make under load
Dangerous to make under heavy load
Uses:
Joining two equally-sized ropes
Extending a towline or stern line
Method 1: the same as a bowline
Method 2: starting with the flat loop
The strain is taken on the ropes in the middle - not the one coming out the side.
How the knot is made is not critical - it is the final shape that is important. One can make the flat loop first, and work the other rope around it. Or one can make the crossed loop first - required when tying a bowline.
The two images show front and back views of the same knot
Advantages:
Easy to make
Easy to undo when tension is removed
Does not easily capsize
Disadvantages:
Hard to make under load
Dangerous to make under heavy load
Uses:
Joining two equally-sized ropes
Extending a towline or stern line
Method 1: the same as a bowline
Method 2: starting with the flat loop
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
I totally did not understand this one.
Make a fisherman's bend but only with the first half hitch (you know through the round turn). You then take the end of the rope you are working with back through in the opposite direction of only one loop of the round turn. If you take it through both it will undo the half hitch you just made as you are going back in the opposite direction to the first half hitch.
The underside of the knot should look like the second picture on this page shows you. The first picture is not that helpful.
That is terrible as an explanation but the only one offered in over a year. Hope it helps a bit.
When a rope has a splice formed at its end, again stronger and more permanent than a loop or bight, that is called an 'eye splice' !
when two ropes are joined making an open splice, and used to apply equal 'sideways' pressure from the directions of the newly formed ropes 'new ends' the pull exerted 'closes' the splice against the bullard,pin,spike,or cleat
-- said splice is technically called a c*nt splice, and was listed along with
instructions to make it in both the midshipmans manuals, and blue jackets
manuals,at least until just before WW 1 ! !
Very well explained thank you very much,
ibcallus
Thanks for pointing out the obvious!
The term bend can also refer to a part of a knot. For example, a bowline is made up of a loop and a bend. A bend in this case is a turn in a piece of line that doesn't cross over itself, whereas a loop crosses over itself.
The arcana of knot lore hides a lot of the details of why knots got the names they have...
I think that's also what jlhuge is referring to... It's a great knot, I have never had the chance to learn it though!
It's nice for someone to bring it all together!
and I'll now go searching, armed with the keywords you've given.
Thanks s much once again. =D
Tech. Maybe this link will help with you. It show you how to tie shoes. Chuck
:)
It joins two pieces of fishing line in a low profile knot which is very secure.