Knots and Hitches

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Which knots / hitches are you using the most?.

I seem to use the bowline as a loop and as a knot a lot. However, the bowline is difficult to release when the rope is tight; perhaps the rolling hitch would be more suitable when rope under strain.

 

[Poignard]

Which knots / hitches are you using the most?.

I seem to use the bowline as a loop and as a knot a lot. However, the bowline is difficult to release when the rope is tight; perhaps the rolling hitch would be more suitable when rope under strain.

Bowline
Clove hitch
Fisherman’s bend
Figure of eight knot
Buntline hitch
Rolling hitch
Sheet bend
Reef knot
Cow hitch
Round turn and 2 half-hitches
Tumble hitch

 

[Baggy]

Undoing a Bowline under tenstion is not cool, me hearty..

The Hangmans Noose can come in handy...

 

[westernman]

Which knots / hitches are you using the most?.

I seem to use the bowline as a loop and as a knot a lot. However, the bowline is difficult to release when the rope is tight; perhaps the rolling hitch would be more suitable when rope under strain.

1) Bowline (for attaching halyards to sails, sheets to sails, making loops in warps for mooring, ....)

and a long way behind....

2) Round turn and 2 half hitches (occasionally)

3) Figure of eight on the end of the sheets

and not much else.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I use a halyard knot for attaching halyards (obviously) and a bowline for everything else. I also tend to splice loops quite a lot because I like doing it and the results look neat.

 

[maxcampbell]

Waggoners hitch

I seldom see this knot mentioned in threads like this, but the knot I call "waggoners' hitch" is tied in the middle of the rope and gives you a 2 part purchase to tighten down to a fixed point.

I've searched animated knots but can't find it, but essentially you pull up a bight & put 2 twists in it, then pull a short bight through the loop so-formed. you then pull a bight through that loop that reaches the fixed point, then pull down and either cleat off or tuck in half hitches (which can also be on the bight). Whatever strain you put on, the knot will "dissolve" on release, and the extra tightening power and subsequent easy tying-off are often useful.

 

[Stemar]

Bowline for eyes that I may want to undo. Like GhostlyM, I like eye splices for permanent ones.
Sheet bend/double sheet bend for joining lines
Round turn & two half hitches for attaching line to things - including fenders (a clove hitch is unreliable in my experience)
Highwayman's hitch when springing off a pontoon when shorthanded & things get difficult
Clove hitch occasionally
Rolling hitch so rarely I have to stop & think how to do it

Oh, and I used a sheep shank the other day, but can't remember what for. Before that I don't think I used one more than a couple of times since I left the scouts!

 

[dulcibella]

I agree with most of the wisdom offered here. I have a theory that all sailors have a favourite knot (taken to include hitches and bends) that they tend to over-use. Mine is definitely the rolling hitch. Apart from the obvious uses for relieving lines and snubbing lines, I use it for attaching burgees and ensign and for tying on fenders. Not only is it secure, but it's so easy to tie once you have the rhythm of it (even upside-down in the dark).

 

[pampas]

Waggoners hitch

also known as a Farmers Hitch, forget the name for it in Annimated knots.

 

[pagoda]

also known as a Farmers Hitch, forget the name for it in Annimated knots.

If you want to undo something under a serious load, a bowline is hopeless.
On the other hand , though a bit pedestrian, a round turn +2 half hitches can be undone in a gale hanging off the bow in horizontal rain.
I use it for mooring shackles on buoys for that reason, having found other knots less easy under load.

Graeme

 

[BobnLesley]

I'm a few but well type of skipper.

I'd far rather have crew who can do the basics - Bowline, Clove hitch, Round turn and 2 half-hitches & a reef knot - first time everytime, than some nautical poser who can tie twenty-five assorted knots, bends & hitches, but needs to think for a few seconds first and then perhaps have two or three attempts before he gets it right.

As an early caving instructor commented: Tying a bowline using both hands doesn't count lad, even in the dark; you can only say 'I can tie bowlines' once you can do it one handed, using either hand and do it behind your back.' Which means sadly, that I still can't say it; the one handed with either hand's OK but I could only ever do it behind me by using my right hand.

 

[onesea]

If you want to undo something under a serious load, a bowline is hopeless.
On the other hand , though a bit pedestrian, a round turn +2 half hitches can be undone in a gale hanging off the bow in horizontal rain.
I use it for mooring shackles on buoys for that reason, having found other knots less easy under load.

Graeme

But is that not the point of all the different knots. Each has a purpose and a reason...

Thats why climbers use figure of 8 knot not bowlines (including on fenders ).

When learning a knot you should not just learn how to tie it but WHY its used.

Next time you tie a bowline tie a sheep bend, then look at the two.
Same goes for round turn 2 half hitches and clove hitch.
Figure of 8 knot and how to make a rope fast on a cleat (real bug bear of mine) 08888 its simplesss...

You can get buy with those on most boats me thinks...

 

[JayBee]

waggoner's hitch

also known as a Farmers Hitch, forget the name for it in Annimated knots.

trucker's hitch

 

[rib]

08888 ?

 

[agurney]

Bowline and clove hitch in equal measure, though for different purposes.

Round turn and two half fankles (usually when I'm securing something under tension)

Figure of eight occasionally (tends to be tied at the beginning of the season for sheets etc., and untied at the end of the season .. in use a lot, but rarely tied)

 

[onesea]

08888 ?

0 = take a turn around the cleat
8888 = several 'figure of eight' turns

Yes maybe a locking turn at the end depends what your doing...

Easiest teaching / memory aid 08888

 

[rib]

long lines and big cleats then

 

[peterb]

0 = take a turn around the cleat
8888 = several 'figure of eight' turns

Yes maybe a locking turn at the end depends what your doing...

Easiest teaching / memory aid 08888

Try 'OXO'. One turn round the cleat, one figure of eight, and a final round turn. Gives greater friction if turns start to slip.

And no-one has mentioned the lighterman's hitch; substitutes for a cleat if the self-tailing goes wrong.

 

[rib]

one sea whats the locking turn for ?

 

[SHUG]

Not mentioned so far.
What is best for joining two lengths of rope . Carrick bend or Fisherman's knot?