Essential knots?

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by TerralTheSeeker

I'll get mister instructor dude to show me that one and put it to use.

T

And a double slipped reef knot is how we tie our shoes.

[jrd22]

I use most of the ones that have already been listed. The only other one I use fairly regularly is the carrick bend. Good for joining two lines of different sizes together.

I make my trucker's hitch differently than what has been described here. I'll see if I can find an illustration of how I tie it. Nothing ever jams (there is no loop that jams)and it's extremely quick and easy to tie. I've used it thousands of times for tying down beehives on a truck.

This is how I tie the truckers hitch that can never jam, most of the time I don't even use the second hitch he puts in on top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcz-...eature=related
You can get even more tension by forming a loop in the live end and using your foot and jumping on it (like a stirrup).

[floridajaxsailor]

stellar site Capt Nery
gracias
-JD

[tapske]

Agree agree. in order of importance :

1. Bowline
2. square knot (reef)
3. clove hitch
4. rolling hitch (my favorite.. the way it locks one way but moves the other, yet soo simple.
*** Of course the cleat, and although technically this is a knot, in my mind it is just wrapping.

**** If the cleat hitch is to be considered a knot (which i know it technically is) then it should be the #1 most important. because without it, you may not be able to properly secure your boat, and if you have no boat..... then it really doesn't matter how many other knots you know how to tie !! ;-)

---tapske...
NIF

[sprega]

Yes.... The cleat hitch/knot tells quite a story. The last boat I bought had plastic thingys on the fender lines to hook over the life lines. They are going in the trash and I will go back to the tried, true and trusted clove hitch, which can be tied slippery for fast untying. The bowline is one of my favorite sturdy knots as it hold very well and is always easy to untie. And, agreed, the truckers hitch is handy as is the aircraft tiedown hitch..... Babble, babble babble.....

[jackdale]

Using a clove hitch, which requires a constant pressure, to attach fenders is an invitation to losing them - I know. A round turn and two half hitches around the base of the stanchion will keep them on your boat.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by tapske

*** Of course the cleat, and although technically this is a knot, in my mind it is just wrapping......

If you do a cleat hitch correctly (two rivers and a bridge), it not only looks professional, but it is extremely secure with just two turns. It may be that doing in correctly is more essential than anything else. I can't stand seeing the amateur versions that do the hitches upside down, which can pull free, and go back and forth over the horns a half dozen times to make up for it.

The beauty of a proper cleat hitch is the cleat can probably still be used to tie another on top of it. Very helpful at dinghy and other crowded docks.

[sprega]

Clove hitch for tying fenders.... Tie a slippery clove , then tie a half hitch around the standing end with the bight. Looks good, is fast to tie and untie and haven't lost a fender in over 40 years.

[chucklesR]

The most important knots are the ones you can tie with one hand.

Practice that and you'll see it's more than you think.

You will not always have the luxury of two free hands.

[TerralTheSeeker]

You guys are killin' me with all your confident knot talk. I'm over here patting myself on the back for being able to handle FOUR basic ones at this point while you're talking about nuclear fusion slip knots and ninja super duper hitches with triple clove slip whatchamacallits and such. You're all my hero.