Getting Knotty
So APPARENTLY, if one one is going to teach people about sailing, one must also teach them about knots.
It makes perfect sense I guess, to someone who USES knots. So far I have managed to avoid doing that by the simple expedient of being very bad at it.
Still, I have to admit that it is reasonable to expect me to learn a few basic, commonly used knots... AND since misery loves company… I am taking you along for the ride with me!
The first thing that I decided to do was a google search to find out which knots are the most commonly used in sailing. I picked three likely candidates out of the plethora of websites provided and started comparing their opinions.
There are literally hundreds of knots out there, so they have been separated into three categories according to their jobs.
The first are those tied on the end of a line and are commonly called “knots,” such as the bowline knot and the stopper knot.
The second category are those used to join two lines together. They may have “bend” in their name, as in a sheet bend, because to bend, in sailor talk, means to join.
The last group are those which secure a line to a cleat, piling or stanchion, and they are known as “hitches.”
Once you start looking, you find out exactly how many ways there are to tie a knot. It’s mind-boggling.
In order to narrow things down I asked Captain Chris his opinion on the most important knots to learn His choices were the Bowline (everyone seems to agree on that), the Cleat Hitch (since being able to tie your boat to the dock is rather important), the Reef Knot (which is used to bind the two ends of a rope together around something), the Stopper Knot (which is used to stop a knot from pulling through a block or rope clutch), and a Sheet Bend (which ties two different lines or sheets together.)
I’m not going to make any attempt to tell you how to DO any of these knots because the directions can sound rather confusing. Instead I have added some links which will take you to several different sites. These seem to have the nicest, clearest photos and directions, and show several other knots that aren’t in my top 5 above.
Is it sad that when I think of tying knots, I still picture cool celtic knots or decorative monkey ball knots? I guess its the crafter in me.
I will also leave you with a short video that might help (although I couldn’t find one which showed the exact same knots listed above)…then I have to go and practice my bowline….Chris says there will be a test later…
https://www.firstclasssailing.com/sailing-knots
https://www.sailmagazine.com/diy/seven-essential-knots-for-sailors
https://paracord550milspec.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/How-to-Tie-20-of-the-Most-Useful-Knots.pdf
Toodles for now, Pura Vida and Happy Knotting!