So with which bend do you join two ropes?

[Stevie_T]

Sheet bend? Nice and quick to tie also good with different size ropes but too insecure?

Fisherman's knot? Very good bi-directional knot though Jams too easily?

Interlinked Bowlines or figure of eight loops? Likely to chafe?

Personally now I favour the Alpine Butterfly bend, easy to tie, doesnt jam, deigned for bi -directional pull so its not so bad for the rope, in fact it is actually a tri-directional knot, when not used as a bend.

All in my humble opinion only of course /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

So what do you use and why?

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
Sheet bend? Nice and quick to tie also good with different size ropes but too insecure?.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Double Sheet Bend is more secure.

 

[michael_w]

Ashley Bend (as invented by Clifford Ashley)
Easy to tie in any weight of line, true lead through the knot, spill-proof and never jams. Sorry, can't find a piccy of this little known wonder.

Zeppelin Bend, same attributes, bit more complicated to tie.

 

[snowleopard]

For any temporary join, a double sheet bend. For maximum security/strength where I don't care if it can't be undone: double fisherman's knot.

I recently tried to haul a 17 ton truck which had bogged down. The rope wasn't man enough for the job and broke but examining the remains I discovered that the sheet bend failed when the sheath broke and slipped off the U-shaped rope (i.e. the one that would be the thick one in an unequal-size join). The rope was 14mm Dyneema.

 

[ditchcrawler]

If I want it to be really secure I use a bend called a Simple Simon of which their are 3 versions,over,under & double.It is a knot by Harry Asher & copes with slippery synthetic ropes & the double version is good for differing sizes of rope.
I also use the Butterfly for loops anywhere in a rope which will take strain from either end.

 

[guernseyman]

Hunter's Bend - works with ropes of differing diameters and with straps. And there is an easy way to tie it, not often given in the books.

 

[dulcibella]

Another vote for the Hunter's bend - a very neat and secure knot that has the further advantage of impressing one's friends.

 

[Ruffles]

I use a reef knot locked with a double fisherman. Used it for years for abseiling. Has never failed for me - obviously. Uses a lot of rope though.

The reef knot takes the strain so you can get the double fisherman undone.

 

[gandy]

This one is good for small or stretchy lines. Can be difficult to undo. The web site calls it a "True Lovers Knot" or "Fishermans's Knot", but neither of those names ring a bell to me. I can't remember whether I was taught a name for it.

 

[djs]

modern practice for joining ropes for abseiling is now just to use an overhand (thumb) knot with a reasonable tail. this knot rolls over edges and obstacles when retrieving ropes. it took a little while to get completely comfortable with it, I had been brought up using reef knots plus fisherman's for joining ropes and found the 'ittle ol' overhand knot a bit scary small. however complete confidence in it now. see no reason why not to use it on boats. guess its best in soft rope and probably not for long term use, but if it's long term, i'd get a longer rope
Dave

 

[Stevie_T]

[ QUOTE ]
I use a bend called a Simple Simon of which their are 3 versions

[/ QUOTE ]
Not that simple then /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Seriously though, there seems to be a lot of variation and thought go into which knot to use, some I haven't heard of and will now give them a try if I can find them

 

[Stevie_T]

[ QUOTE ]
modern practice for joining ropes for abseiling is now just to use an overhand (thumb) knot with a reasonable tail.

[/ QUOTE ]
Really?
I am not dissagreeing or trying to be cleverer, but I have not heard that. And I am a professional abseiler (rope access) and an ex (very ex) caver. I have always used the fishermans knot for abseiling past when I used to cave, its a very kind knot to the rope and I think doesn't weaken it too much, usually it would be a triple fishermans for peace of mind. However I said earlier it does jam terribly. Nowadays I abseil on an Alpine Butterfly for the same reasons already stated in my original post, this knot is used (not as a bend), to isolate any damage in a rope, before passing it in the same way as a sheepshank is, only much easier to tie and much safer. And this is the knot evaryone in the industry is trainied to use.

Not that this necessarily makes it the only or even the best knot to use of course, I would be interested in giving the thumb knot a try, what are the strength characteristics do you know?

By the way, congratulations on becoming a yacht owner Dave, I bought my first yacht last year after always saying I never would. Costing me a fortune, but I love it.

 

[macd]

Looks like a single fishermans. Double fisherman's has an extra loop on each end.

 

[djs]

it's what was (certainly upto a couple of years ago I believe) the way taught to MIA MIC candidates to join two ropes when abbing of routes. I also used to do quite a bit of (vertical caving) but as I tell everyone "I'm better now". I am aware of the incredibly different standards that professional rope access techs have to work to, double rope systems for starters, I suspect that the difference is down to the overhand knot been aimed at recreational not industrial use

I try not to thing of the cost of the boat too much - i'm telling myself its the cost to sort her out and it will get less. say it enough and you can knid of believe it.
Dave

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sheet bend? Nice and quick to tie also good with different size ropes but too insecure?.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Double Sheet Bend is more secure.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's no need to limit yourself to double sheet bends. For ropes with very different diameters, try triple, quadruple, etc sheet bends. The more turns you make round the "U", the less likely it is that the knot will capsize itself.

 

[gandy]

Anyone use the Carrick Bend? It's pleasingly symmetrical, and one I keep meaning to learn.

 

[dulcibella]

The Carrick bend is pretty (until tightened) but generally needs the ends seized if it is to be absolutely secure in dissimilar ropes. There are simpler solutions.

 

[LadyInBed]

The lines that I have that I would want to join have eye splices in one end, so I loop one rope eye through the eye of the other (ending up with a reef knot in the eye's).
Otherwise it's a double sheet bend.