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Old 10-12-2013, 03:24   #1
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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
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Old 10-12-2013, 03:36   #2
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Re: It's all about the rope...

simple bowline, half hitch and rolling hitch
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Old 10-12-2013, 03:40   #3
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Re: It's all about the rope...

Here is a good link to starting to learn knots. You can go at your own speed with the animations.

Animated Knots by Grog | How to Tie Knots | Fishing, Boating, Climbing, Scouting, Search and Rescue, Household, Decorative, Rope Care,

Coops.
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Old 10-12-2013, 03:48   #4
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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.
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Old 10-12-2013, 03:53   #5
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Re: It's all about the rope...

Quote:
Originally Posted by MoxieGirl View Post
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
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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Old 10-12-2013, 03:55   #6
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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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Old 10-12-2013, 04:31   #7
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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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Old 10-12-2013, 05:24   #8
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Re: It's all about the rope...

Before learning your knots, you need to whip the ends of your rope.

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Old 10-12-2013, 05:34   #9
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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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Old 10-12-2013, 09:21   #10
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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 View Post
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.
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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Old 10-12-2013, 09:25   #11
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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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Old 10-12-2013, 09:30   #12
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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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Old 10-12-2013, 09:56   #13
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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
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.
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Old 10-12-2013, 10:04   #14
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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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Old 10-12-2013, 10:27   #15
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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
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