Knot Superstars: Bend Me Your Ear

[Richard5]

A hitch is not a bend is not a knot.

Hitches are meant for constant pull. I secured a 115 ton vessel to the fuel dock with only a half hitch. The only way this worked was there was a 4 kt current.

A knot will take the tesion like a hitch but will not spill when the line is eased.

Bowline, clove hitch, constrictor, double sheet bend, and marriage knot are the basics. A marriage knot is simply an overhand knot tied in each of two lines to be mated. If tied properly, each overhand knot will 'nest" into the other. Minimal reduction in breaking strength and can take incredible loads.

[marujo.sortudo]

Clove hitch with a locking half hitch on top makes a great way to tie off to bollards and can be tied in a bight. Of course, under load a round turn and two half hitches is a better option.

Taking short pieces of left over line and putting a wall and crown button on one end and an eye splice on the other makes a great way to stow or hang tons of items.

Turks heads have tons of uses: marking wheel center, oar buttons, stops on travelers, fenders for blocks that old otherwise bash into their surroundings, etc.

Marriage knots are about the only thing that will hold in small, slippery twine.

Crown splices are a wonderful way to join rope and chain portions of rode.

Buntline hitches are the absolute best in security and compactness, but they do jam.

Alpine butterfly knots are great when you need something that can take a load in three directions.

The anchor hitch is a great replacement for a bowline in a place that will go from load to no load repeatedly (bowlines occasionally untie in these circumstances.)

An anglers loop is one of the few knots you can tie in bungee cords that won't work itself free.

[Skabeeb]

I like the Alpine Butterfly over a truckers hitch. It's great for rigging a preventer.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by jackdale

...........

Double sheet bend rather than a single, just a bit stronger.

+1 and the double is usually doesn't jam as hard - easier to untie. In fact I rarely use the single version, only the double.