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10-12-2013, 03:24
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 78
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It's all about the Rope...
Hi,
I'm not going to be sailing till next spring/summer for one reason or another. But I don't want to spend the dark winter days of England doing nothing.
So have set out to teach myself a variety of knots used in sailing. I have some quality rope, a Knot App for my iPad, and a desire to learn.
What knots do you use on a regular basis and/or is good to know for sailing?
Thanks,
MG
__________________
My blog, Sofa to Sailboat where you'll also find sample chapters from my upcoming novel.
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10-12-2013, 03:36
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Stuart, FL & Bahamas Cruising
Boat: Lagoon 37
Posts: 880
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Re: It's all about the rope...
simple bowline, half hitch and rolling hitch
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10-12-2013, 03:40
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern NSW.Australia
Boat: Sunmaid 20, John Welsford Navigator
Posts: 9,549
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Re: It's all about the rope...
__________________
When somebody told me that I was delusional, I almost fell off of my unicorn.
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10-12-2013, 03:48
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Homer, AK is my home port
Boat: Skookum 53'
Posts: 4,042
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Re: It's all about the rope...
You need to know about 8 different knots, you will use 3 or 4 the most, the rest occasionally see the link that Coops has posted, those are a good start.
__________________
" Wisdom; is your reward for surviving your mistakes"
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10-12-2013, 03:53
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#5
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,301
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Re: It's all about the rope...
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoxieGirl
Hi,
I'm not going to be sailing till next spring/summer for one reason or another. But I don't want to spend the dark winter days of England doing nothing.
So have set out to teach myself a variety of knots used in sailing. I have some quality rope, a Knot App for my iPad, and a desire to learn.
What knots do you use on a regular basis and/or is good to know for sailing?
Thanks,
MG
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There has been a couple of threads on this previously and the custom google search function might be new best friend
Knots are a little like anchors, everyone has their favourites and some get quite exotic .
I like simple, (it suits me), bowline, sheet bend (and double sheet bend), clove hitch, constrictor knots (several varieties), round turn & two half hitches, figure of eight, and the occasional Turks Head for fun. The rest are for those who need to know more or have specialist needs or best kept for other pleasures.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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10-12-2013, 03:55
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon
Posts: 5,975
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Re: It's all about the rope...
I've found that practicing one of these in the cockpit will keep a crew in line...
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In the harsh marine environment, something is always in need of repair...
Mai Tai's fix everything...
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10-12-2013, 04:31
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#7
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
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Re: It's all about the rope...
The previous suggestions fairly well cover it. But from Grog's sailing page - there are two others that I find useful. Alpine Butterfly Loop (good non-jamming loop that easy to tie and can take strain in all three directions) and Zeppelin Bend (I prefer it to the Sheet Bend)
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10-12-2013, 05:24
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#8
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CF Adviser Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Virginia
Boat: Island Packet 380, now sold
Posts: 8,942
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Re: It's all about the rope...
Before learning your knots, you need to whip the ends of your rope.
__________________
Hud
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10-12-2013, 05:34
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Warwick RI
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 1,873
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Re: It's all about the rope...
I really like the water bowline. It is very similar to the regular bowline with only 1 additional step to make it. I feel much more secure using it and it is easy to learn.
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-Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
-Molon Labe
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10-12-2013, 09:21
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 78
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Thanks everyone for your input. I shall chase up those links this week, and Google is already my best friend.
I sort of figured there were 100s of knots one could learn, but typically 3 or 4 that people use for most cases.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname
There has been a couple of threads on this previously and the custom google search function might be new best friend Knots are a little like anchors, everyone has their favourites and some get quite exotic . I like simple, (it suits me), bowline, sheet bend (and double sheet bend), clove hitch, constrictor knots (several varieties), round turn & two half hitches, figure of eight, and the occasional Turks Head for fun. The rest are for those who need to know more or have specialist needs or best kept for other pleasures.
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As a side note, I already own a bag of rope and know many knots. Just not sure yet any are appropriate for sailing, but certainly work for other pleasures. LOL
MG
__________________
My blog, Sofa to Sailboat where you'll also find sample chapters from my upcoming novel.
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10-12-2013, 09:25
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,482
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Re: It's all about the rope...
I would add the clove hitch to your list. It's probably the knot I use more often than any. After that the bowline.
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10-12-2013, 09:30
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, CA
Boat: Searunner 40 trimaran, WILDERNESS
Posts: 3,175
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Re: It's all about the rope...
I would add one which I use a lot, the constrictor knot. This thing, first described by Clifford Ashley, many, many years ago, can even substitute for a hose clamp in an emergency. I know this for a fact. Here is the link:
Once applied correctly, you need to cut it with a knife to remove it.
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10-12-2013, 09:56
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MoxieGirl
As a side note, I already own a bag of rope and know many knots. Just not sure yet any are appropriate for sailing, but certainly work for other pleasures. LOL
MG
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In what part of England did you say you are whiling away those cold winter nights?
For sailing, you really only need a few knots. But you need every one of those few, and you need to be able to do them behind your back and without thinking about it. So forget the 100 knots and concentrate on these.
The main knot - the so-called King of Knots - is the bowline. Accounts for probably 60% of knots on board. For tying sheets to cringles, or really, tying almost anything to anything. A universal, simple, very strong and very secure knot. Just don't tie it backwards.
Clove hitch. Not very secure, but great, quick utility knot. Might be renamed "fender hitch".
Rolling hitch. This awesome, almost magic knot is for gripping anything on one direction. A million applications. Number two in frequency of use after the King.
Round turn and two half hitches. Tie up your dinghy with this.
Sheet bend. Quick way to join two pieces of rope.
That's really about all the essential ones. Get these down cold, so that you can tie them in your sleep, before picking up anything more exotic.
__________________
"You sea! I resign myself to you also . . . . I guess what you mean,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
Walt Whitman
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10-12-2013, 10:04
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, CA
Boat: Searunner 40 trimaran, WILDERNESS
Posts: 3,175
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Re: It's all about the rope...
When I was a rock climber, we had to learn to tie the bowline with one hand around our waist, the other hand was hanging onto a rock wall. It's a similar condition we sailors can face, and a handy lesson to learn.
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10-12-2013, 10:27
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 78
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Dockhead, Thanks for the short-list of knots. I have all those in my ap, and they seem quite easy. But you're right about practice, practice, practice. Tying knots is a great thing to do while watching TV. I need to watch more TV. LOL
I live in Suffolk, about 30 miles inland from Ipswich in a lovely market town with a lot of history.
I'm also going to work on the other knots mentioned, but will start with Dockhead's short list.
Roy, I bet you also know the Prusic knot, one of my favourite, although I doubt it sees much use on the water. The reef (square) knot is one I can do blindfolded and probably one handed.
Right, The Big Bang Theory is on, I'm in a hotel in the North of England with not much to do but get my length of rope out.
MG
__________________
My blog, Sofa to Sailboat where you'll also find sample chapters from my upcoming novel.
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