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Knots

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To get my sailing fix while on land, I’ve been learning to tie knots.

Somehow I never got into it before. I could tie an overhand knot, but didn’t know the name. I could tie it on a bight if I needed a loop, but didn’t know what a bight was. I kinda assumed that knots were too hard, or that I wouldn’t be able to learn them, I guess.

Well, I was wrong. As I got into sailing, I forced myself to learn a few knots that I’d need on the boat. A bowline because everyone said it’s really important. The figure eight as a stop-knot on the jibsheets.

Then one day I noticed some of the fancy ropework around the center. It was so beautiful that I had to learn more.

I picked up The Marlinspike Sailor & Ashley Book of Knots, and have been cramming them into my head as quickly as I can.

I learned to tie a Monkey’s Fist and a Turk’s Head pretty early on, and the Clove Hitch only a week ago. I think I’m getting them out of order.

One aspect of knots that I find fascinating is how many different ways there are to get to a given knot. For example, you can capsize a Granny Knot into a Clove Hitch in a quick jerk. According to Ashley, the salty way to untie a Reef Knot is to capsize it into a Cow Hitch and slide it off.

The Clove Hitch seems to show up over & over. The Round Turn with Two Half Hitches is really a Clove Hitch tied on the standing part. You can make two loops in a rope & place one behind the other, and you get a clove hitch. When you tie off a boat on a cleat, you make a Clove Hitch in a different way. Cross your arms, grab a rope, uncross and put one fist in front of the other – Clove Hitch. Etc.

A few days ago I learned to finish off a coil. I only know one good way, but I’ll keep learning.

Yesterday I figured out how to make a Constrictor Knot in the middle of a line, without the end. That was neat, but I’m a little scared of that knot; I don’t want to get stuck.

Today I finally learned to tie a Rolling Hitch. It’s an important hitch if you have a load pulling parallel to the target.

I don’t know why it took me so long, since it’s just a Clove Hitch with an extra turn.

I already know two ways to tie it:

  1. Take two turns around the target.
  2. Cross over the standing part
  3. Take another turn around the object
  4. Tuck the end under the last turn.
  5. Work it up tight.

Or

  1. Make three loops in the rope
  2. Bring the third loop around & in front of the first and second.
  3. Place the loops around the target.
  4. Work it up tight.

As you can see, I’m filling my head up with knots. I love it.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    June 11, 2004
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2004
    Five different ways to tie a bowline? I only know three. Clearly, I need to brush up on my knotledge.

    It is so very difficult to describe how to tie a knot, and that even with pictures. I'm impressed both with those who can successfully describe how to tie one and those who are able to learn from such descriptions.
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2004
    The comment has been removed