What knots?

[Malabar]

If they are with you for over an hour, as commented they will get bored with a succession of fancy knots they will use only very rarely. Suggest you stick to the few that you use all the time (bowline, rolling hitch etc) then get them cracking on the eye splice. Finally graduation knot might be a turks head that they can then use to decorate anything from tillers to plant pots.

 

[snowleopard]

If they are with you for over an hour, as commented they will get bored with a succession of fancy knots they will use only very rarely.

Hence the OP...

I want to include some that are useful in everyday shore life plus a few fancy bits for entertainment value.

 

[Marsupial]

I have done a similar thing, the best advice I can give is keep it simple and dont try to get them to tie to many knots - many just wont get it.

Visit your local chandlery and tell them what you are doing, they will (might,should) give you lots of odd bits of rope and line.

Identify this lot and start off with a brief history of lines and ropes starting with reeds and ending with dynemma. Explain how knots and bends have evolved as line evolved, on the way demonstrate a few simple knots then get them to tie a few - but just a few, a bowline, reef knot and clovehitch will be more than enough for most of them. As an added attraction if you DO have a sailor give him a piece of three strand and a fid and get him to make a splice.

 

[guernseyman]

Hunter's bend.

Quick and easy to tie, so long as you ignore the classic book method.

Works with ropes of widely differing diameters and even straps.

N.B. I have discovered there is an analogous method of tying the Zeppelin bend but I find it less intuitive.

 

[robertj]

The one knot I have always found totally pointless but included in every list of knots is the sheepshank. The only time I've ever used one was to shorten a light pull and even then I had to modify it with a couple of extra half hitches to stop it unravelling!

the knot will work if the eye loops are moused. The real knack is tying it whilst the ends are still secured and keeping it taught.

An old salt taught me that if it's the only way to shorten or isolate a damaged part then do it, but always best to replace.

 

[mezereon]

For entertainment value, I vote for a single handed bowline (while pretending to be on a rock face, see who survives). Slightly off subject, but as suggested below, my kids were fascinated to learn about rope making by twisting longer strands.

 

[fergie_mac66]

anchor bend

great for tying an anchor on .. mind you once they have had some pull on v hard t untie pretty much permanent !

eye splice very useful well worth knowing !
crown knot and back splice

 

[snowleopard]

anchor bend... v hard t untie pretty much permanent !

I think that's what I learned as a fisherman's bend. Never used one in anger because of the jamming problem but come to think of it, probably better than a RT+2HH for attaching my mooring bridles to the riser chain.

 

[john_morris_uk]

For a bit of fun why not teach them the "spur lash".

This is the knot SWMBO appears to prefer when tying on fenders (despite being capable of tying a perfectly good clove hitch). So called 'coz that's the sound anything tied on with this not-knot makes as it hits the water!

Ha ha -it reminds me that we always tie our fenders on with a round turn and two half hitches - to the point that this particular knot is always referred to as 'a fender knot' on our boat - much to the confusion of any visitors.

Any way - back to knots as I don't want to dred the thrift...

 

[FrancisRutter]

Under 'fancy knots' the true lovers knot is worth a mention. Looks pretty when done and actually used to have a use in rigging a jury rig. Provides four anchor points for jury shrouds. [ Also can be used if faced in a fair ground with someone who bets that nobody can tie him in a knot that he cannot get out of.]

 

[Jeremy_W]

I would scrap the figure of eight and teach them the double overhand stopper knot. As Malcolm McKeag says the only purpose of teaching the figure of eight is so that people will know how to untie it.

 

[old_salt]

Under 'fancy knots' the true lovers knot is worth a mention. Looks pretty when done and actually used to have a use in rigging a jury rig. Provides four anchor points for jury shrouds. [ Also can be used if faced in a fair ground with someone who bets that nobody can tie him in a knot that he cannot get out of.]

A another fun knot is a constrictor knot done with 9" of fine stuff around the crossed thumbs the tie being away form the participant so he can't get his teeth to it.
Seriously.
One thing you could do is make up a couple of mats I have a couple I use as cup mats on my office desk and a rope ladder and have a partly made up set to demonstrate the methods.
You could make a pick-up print out of vairous knots and bends with simple instructions for them to take home.

 

[cozzykim]

Show them the difference between a reef knot and a granny knot.
Then find out how many of them have been tying their shoelaces incorrectly for the last 50 odd years, like I have

I only realised this after reading a tip on one of the knot tying websites and checking the way my shoelace knots lay, my shoes don't come undone anymore

Apart from this, as already suggested, keep it simple with just the most useful basic knots to maintain interest.