How Many Different Knots do you Regularly Use?

[kumgang]

I think I use 4 knots.

[perchance]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The shoelace knot is just a slipped reef knot

The only thing is that many people tie it as a granny knot. How do you tie yours?

I use the granny knot quite often but she keeps escaping.

[rtbates]

ALL OF THEM

As a wise man once said, "I don't bother to learn what I can look up"..

I have several books with every knot known to man..

I know 'by heart' 1. bowline 2. square 3. clove hitch 4. slip. 5. half hitch 6. rolling hitch 7. prussack

[ggray]

I'd add the anchor bend, and the constrictor knot. I don't use the latter frequently, but when its capabilities are needed, it is the best knot to use.

Two half hitches, already mentioned, I use the most.

[hblask]

OK, this is apparently where the knot experts hang out.... I have a non-sailing need for a knot -- hanging a tire swing for my kids. I've got two fairly thick ropes (in case the friction of swinging wears one out, the kids don't crash to the ground).

I'm looking for a knot (or knots) that I can tie to the branch securely, and then around the tire in a way that can be adjusted to a specific height and will stay there. My "random pile of rope" technique loosens as they use it.

I will then repeat that for the second (backup) rope. It's a fairly thick rope, maybe as big around as my thumb?

(EDIT: I looked through the wiki entry on knots, but there's not a good way to match knot to usage).

[rebel heart]

- round turn and two half hitches
- trucker's hitch
- bowline

I can get a lot done with those three.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by hblask

OK, this is apparently where the knot experts hang out.... I have a non-sailing need for a knot -- hanging a tire swing for my kids. I've got two fairly thick ropes (in case the friction of swinging wears one out, the kids don't crash to the ground).

I'm looking for a knot (or knots) that I can tie to the branch securely, and then around the tire in a way that can be adjusted to a specific height and will stay there. My "random pile of rope" technique loosens as they use it.

I will then repeat that for the second (backup) rope. It's a fairly thick rope, maybe as big around as my thumb?

(EDIT: I looked through the wiki entry on knots, but there's not a good way to match knot to usage).

Put some chain around the tree branch to negate the friction problem, rock one line.

Tie a bowline around the tire, put the line up through a block on the chain, screw a cleat into the tree, or just cleat it off someone. If it's long enough you could just tie a round turn and two half hitches around the tree. The friction will keep it from moving.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Put some chain around the tree branch to negate the friction problem, rock one line.

Tie a bowline around the tire, put the line up through a block on the chain, screw a cleat into the tree, or just cleat it off someone. If it's long enough you could just tie a round turn and two half hitches around the tree. The friction will keep it from moving.

Make really shippy by running the line through a sheet stopper / clutch. Or attach a self-tailing winch to the tree.

[Thumbs Up]

Tie a small bowline at the end of the rope, toss that end over the branch, put the other end through the loop and pull on it so that it tightens around the branch, put the end through the tire and up then tie it to itself with a rolling hitch which you can slide up and down to adjust the height.

[Jbaffoh]

I'm surprised how low on the list many of you have placed the clove hitch. For me, it's been tied with the bowline for usefulness over the past 40 years on the water. Probably the only knot I use more id the bow I tie my shoelaces with.