Essential knots?

[chucklesR]

Truth be told Terral - I can't tie a bowline without practice. 10 years of sailing.

I can take a line, double it and tie an overhand knot with one hand, a easy bowline replacement for a temporary eye. The rest I fake. I even wear loafers because I can't keep my shoelaces tied.

[peterconway]

A bowline and a square will get you through most any situation. The bowline can be untied where the square will tighten up to the point where it must be cut. To avoid looking like an idiot, make sure you can tie off dock lines correctly.

[biology]

Lots have mentioned the sheet bend... double sheet bend is handy when securing two lines of different diameter. (the larger one is the bite, the smaller makes the double wrap)

Also, figure 8 has been mentioned as a great stopper knot... agreed. A figure 8 on a bite is also the preferred knot for tying into a safety line for climbing (rock, ice, mountains, or masts). It's assumed you're using a harness.. you can use a locking carabiner to secure the figure 8 on a bite to your harness, or tie a figure 8 with a long working end sticking out, feed that through the tie-in point on your harness, and then follow the figure 8 back through with the working end. Leave at least an 8" tail, or if it's longer you can tie the tail off with numerous knots (the 8 is tested secure; tying the tail off if it's long is just to keep it out of your way). Just make sure the knot is dressed properly.

[jackdale]

The climbing figure 8 is a great knot. I just use a bowline with a safety hitch and then clip the shackle to the harness when I ascend. Two halyards (or the topping lift) of course.

[biology]

@jack: bowlines (with a safety hitch) are perfectly fine for ascending a mast really... especially if you're being hoisted up. The weight delivery to the knot is constant and doesn't necessarily take on a sudden load as with climbing and sustaining a fall.

As a side note, I think it's interesting how most rope companies, like New England Ropes, sells to different populations. They make low stretch lines for halyards, and then very high stretch ropes for climbing. So the low stretch line that will break you in half in a fall climbing is great for a halyard... The super stretchy rope for climbing would be a POS halyard. Either way they'll both cost you an arm and a leg.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by jackdale

....I just use a bowline with a safety hitch and then clip the shackle to the harness when I ascend.......

Since this reads funny, I'm sure you don't mean that you tie the line to a shackle and then clip the shackle to the harness. Your line has a pre-spliced shackle on the end. You tie the line directly to the harness. The shackle is on the bitter end of the knot, which you clip to the harness for safety so it can't back through and undo the knot.

I'm sure that's what you meant, just thought clarification might help.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Since this reads funny, I'm sure you don't mean that you tie the line to a shackle and then clip the shackle to the harness. Your line has a pre-spliced shackle on the end. You tie the line directly to the harness. The shackle is on the bitter end of the knot, which you clip to the harness for safety so it can't back through and undo the knot.

I'm sure that's what you meant, just thought clarification might help.

Minnewaska - you are a mind reader.