Tied up in Knots

Boating Knots by AnimatedKnots.com

Raining day so after stopping leaks, I am practicing my Knots for sailing!

1. Bowline: simplicity, strength and resistance to jamming and can be slung over a post and can be tied after the rope passed through a ring. Can be undone if  is shaken or jostled.
2. Square Knot: join two ropes together in a simple and effective way, but is not reliable for heavy weights or critical situations. The square knot has been used for centuries to join two ends together for bandages or shoelaces or belts.
3. Water Knot: useful knot for webbing. If this knot is in fact made with webbing, it is often applied as a sling and can hold very heavy loads depending on the integrity of the webbing. Repeated stress on this knot can cause the tail to slip, therefore make sure to leave a long tail end.
4. Rolling Hitch: used to attach ropes to poles and other objects and is designed for stress in a parallel direction along the object to which the knot is attached.
5. Clove Hitch: attached to an independent object other than the load itself and is strong when a load pulls on either end of the hitch as in a crossing knot. Used with stress on one end, the hitch can be undone with adjustable length on the running end.
6. Trucker's Hitch: used to cinch down a load which produces unusual strength and tension. The overall mechanical advantage produced by this knot is a 3 to 1 ratio.
7.  Mooring Hitch: used to tie a boat down to a stationary point. This technique is called "mooring." The mooring hitch should be used temporarily. It can remain taught under tension, but can also be quickly released with a tug on the free end.
8. Double Fisherman's: to connect two pieces of rope and proved reliable which lies flat throughout the connection.
9. Constrictor Knot: To bind or gather groups of objects, to provide security for temporary and semi-permanent situations. Because the knot grips itself, it will not work itself loose. Tightness that can be exerted by the rope can damage the objects being bound.
10. Buntline Hitch: useful when a rope is tied to a ring, eye, or snap and bunches neatly and tightly to the ring and can withstand much tension and strength. Can be difficult to remove after use because of the continual tightening.
11. Tautline Hitch: the ability to adjust the tension on a given object, very secure and reliable. Loop can be tightened or loosened as needed.

by Paul Galla, President, U.S. Rope & Cable