How to Tie Boating Knots - Rope is one of the essential equipment of a boat. Before setting sail, you should be familiar with handling ropes and tying sailing knots. The running end of a rope is used in making a knot. Bight is a bend in rope between two ends.
Sailing Knots – Learning How to Tie Boating Knots
New York (USA), September 02, 2017
Handling Ropes and Tying Sailing Knots
Rope is one of the essential equipment of a boat. Before setting sail, you should be familiar with handling ropes and tying sailing knots. The running end of a rope is used in making a knot. The standing part remains under strain. Bight is a bend in the rope between the two ends.
Tying Different Sailing Knots
1. Overhand or Thumb Knot
This is the simplest sailing knot. Form an overhand loop by crossing running end over standing part. Next, cross running end behind standing part and then pass it through the loop. This forms an overhand knot. It is difficult to untie. Such knots are common on jib sheets as they are not re-rigged frequently.
2. Square Knot
This is the most common and well-known sailor’s knot. Tying square knot is very simple as it is just two overhand knots. The rule to tie this knot is right over left, then left over right. This knot is used in tying together small ropes, sail covers, tying in battens, tie two lines together, reefing, and lashing. If you tie this knot improperly, it could become a granny knot.
3. Bowline
This is among the most useful sailing knots and is aptly termed ‘king of knots.’ To tie a bowline, put line around object and make a simple overhand loop crossing running end of rope over standing part. Next, put running end through the loop from underneath. Now wrap running end around back of standing part and pass running end back down through the loop in the same way as it came out. This knot is easy to tie and untie even after being under load. This knot forms a secure loop of any size and does not jam. This multipurpose knot is useful in tying line to a bollard, a ring, to make a loop at end of a line, or to tie a line around one’s waist.
4. Figure Eight Knot
This knot is very easy to tie or untie even if the rope is wet. To tie a figure-8 knot, make an underhand loop by crossing running end behind standing part of rope. Next, take running end over standing part and back around through the loop from beneath. Secure it firmly. This knot is used as a stopper knot to prevent ropes from escaping. It never jams. This knot is also used to attach rope halyards to sails.
5. Double Half Hitch
This knot is also known as two half hitches or a round turn and two half hitches. This knot is simple to tie. Pass line twice around a pole and then tie two half hitches around standing part of line to finish the knot. This knot moors boat more strongly than a clove hitch. Use this knot to attach a line to a beam or pole.
6. Clove Hitch
This knot is mainly used for tying line to a post or pile. Form an underhand loop by crossing running end behind standing part. To form a clove hitch, slip two underhand loops over a pole. This knot is used for tying line to a post, even if end of line is not available. Although this knot is used to moor small boats, it is not very secure and can slip off under pressure or if jiggled.
7. Anchor Knot
This is Fisherman’s Bend or Modified Double Half Hitch. This is used to tie line to a post or to an anchor a boat.
Guide to Sailing and Ocean Cruising in a Medium Sized Yacht
The Complete Reference Guide to Sailing and Ocean Cruising in a Medium Sized Yacht