Necessary Knots for the Everyday Sailor

When you are boating, you will realize that knot tying is a necessary skill to attain. There are many knots that serve different purposes. However, mastering the essential ones will make your life as a sailor easier. If you are looking for a boat, White's Marine Center in Pittsburg, Missouri has many good ones to choose from. We also serve Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri.

Bowline

The bowline is a popular knot due to its strength, simplicity, and stability. This knot can be used to add a fixed loop to the end of a rope. You can use this knot to attach your dinghy painter and mooring line to a cleat. It is easy to undo a bowline even after it has been under load. Not susceptible to slipping, a bowline won't jam. You won't be able to undo it while it is under load.

The Clove Hitch

Also known as the Fender Knot, the clove hitch is mostly used as a crossing knot. Two half-hitches are tied around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot. The knot is easy to tie. However, if it is under tension, the knot can unwind or slip.

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches is a hitch used to tie a rope's end to a fixed item. A round turn ties the rope around the item and the two half hitches are used to tie the end around the part that is standing. You can use this hitch to attach a line around a rail, hook, ring, or bollard. If you notice your clove hitch is slipping, this can be a good alternative. This knot is secure because it self-tightens and can be undone even under load.

Reef Knot

The reef knot, also known as the square knot or Hercules knot, is used to tie a rope around an object. To make the knot, tie a left-handed overhand knot followed by a right-handed overhand knot. This knot is great for organizing reefs in a sail. The reef knot can come undone very easily.                                                                                                    

Double Sheet Bend

The double sheet bend is more secure than the sheet bend. The point of this knot is to join two ropes that are different in diameter. It is a good knot for lengthening a mooring line. This knot can be undone easily, but you can't tie it under load.

Rolling Hitch

The rolling hitch is used to tie a rope to another rope, pole, or rod. This knot is used to reduce the strain of a working rope. It is very secure which makes this knot a great safety backup.

Figure of 8

Figure of 8 is a stopper knot that keeps the rope from running through a jammer or car. It is a very easy knot to tie. It can be undone easily even after it has jammed against a block.

Learning the knots necessary to be a sailor will save you a lot of problems in the long run. You can use a knot to lengthen a mooring line. It is also possible to add a fixed loop to the end of a rope. White's Marine Center in Pittsburg, Missouri has a nice selection of boats that also serve Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri.