A Knot for All Occasions
Most
people never think about learning how to tie a proper knot until the time comes
when their tent is caught in a storm, a piece of gear breaks, a kayak or boat needs to
be secured, or a short rope needs to be made longer. In cases like these, a
little knowledge about knots can do wonders to help you hold things together
until the end of the trip or even around the house.
Certainly,
there is no shortage of books about knots, but most of these books cover far
more information than anyone except a tall-ship captain could ever need. Let's
face it: Few of us are actually going to devote ourselves to mastering a
hundred different types of knots, plus memorize the particular benefits and
weaknesses of each type. Even if we did, we would quickly find ourselves
forgetting them or confusing them by the time we are actually called upon to
use them.
Fortunately,
mastering knots is not an all or nothing deal. You don't have to devote
years of study to the mysteries of cordage in order to be a competent knot
user. In fact, most of the knot-likely situations that arise on an expedition
can be dealt with competently and quickly by using only a handful of knots.
Could you just "invent" your own knots as these situations arise?
Perhaps. But tying something securely can be harder than you think, and people
who make up knots as they go can quickly find themselves at the end of their
rope when the knot keeps slipping or, worse, jams so tightly it won't untie at
all, even when you want it to.
A good knot is like a good tool. Once you learn how to tie it
correctly, many situations become so much easier. I've learned
how to tie many amazing knots over the years-some practical, some decorative,
some fairly exotic-but there are six that I have never forgotten, and that I
always put to good use. If I had to limit myself to only six knots, these are
the six I would pick. With the help of a good rope and a creative mind, there
are few knotty situations these knots cannot handle.
Bowline
The
bowline has been called the "king" of knots. Basically, it makes a
non-slipping loop (in contrast to the well-known "slip knot," which
tightens under a load). There are many different ways to tie it, but all
methods yield a secure, extremely versatile loop that won't slip or tighten
when subjected to tension. It can be used to make a convenient
"handle" at the end of a rope for easier pulling or hanging, tied at
regular intervals to create a series of rope "steps," or used to hang
heavy items without fear of the loop tightening or jamming under the load like towing a car. It
can also be tied near the middle of a rope to attach a second or third line for
stabilizing a load in multiple directions.
To tie
the Bowline Knot:
Put a twist in the rope to
make a small loop.Pass the end up through the
loop, around the rope, and back down through the loop again.Pull the end tight to close
the knot. If tied correctly, the resulting loop should not slip or
constrict.
ConstrictorKnot
For its
intended use, the constrictor knot can't be beat. It's the ideal knot to use in
situations when a lot of tension needs to be applied to lash, clamp, or join
two or more things together. It can be used to clamp pieces together for
gluing, to reinforce repairs that need to stand up to further stress, to lash
shorter sticks or shafts together into a longer pole, or to replace a hose-clamp
around tubing. If the situation calls for some kind of quick, easy, secure way
to apply tension, the constrictor knot is probably the knot to use.
To tie
the Constrictor Knot:
Make a large loop. Pull one side of the loop
over to divide it into two loops. Fold the loops together over
the rope. Slide the folded loops over
whatever you wish to constrict.
Pull the ends in opposite
directions to constrict the knot. If tied correctly, it should remain
tightly constricted. For active (moving or
stressed) loads, constrict the knot as tightly as possible, then tie off
the ends to prevent the knot from working loose.
Rolling Hitch
The
Rolling Hitch is the simplest, slickest, and quickest way I've discovered for
tying a line securely, with adjustable tension. That's right, I said adjustable
tension! You can tie it loose, then draw it up tightly as needed, making it
perfect for tying off the guy lines of your shelter. Better yet, it can be tied
or untied under tension and it never jams. This nifty little hitch should come
in handy in virtually any tension-dependent tie-down situation.
To tie
the Rolling Hitch:
Make a main loop around any
secure object you want to hitch to (a tree, a post, etc.), making sure to
leave at least twelve inches of slack in the end.
Wrap the end through the inside
of the main loop one-and-a-half times.
Pass the end over and around
the rope outside the main loop to make a smaller loop.
Pull the end back through
the smaller loop and tug it tight.
Slide the hitch up the rope
to increase tension, or down the rope to release tension. If tied
correctly, the hitch should hold securely wherever you place it.
Utility Loop
I don't
know the "real" name for this knot, but I call it the Utility Loop
because it's a quick, simple way to accomplish two very useful goals: (1) to
create a loop anywhere in the middle of a long rope, or (2) to remove excess
slack from the middle of a rope by making it shorter. What makes the Utility
Loop particularly handy is the fact that you can tie it anywhere along the rope
without access to either end. If you snug it up tightly, it will rarely
slip or release, but it rarely jams either.
To tie
the Utility Loop:
Make a loop that is slightly
larger than desired (the size of the finished loop or the amount of slack
you need to remove). Wrap the loop down and
around both parts of the rope and pass it back through, like tying
a basic overhand knot. Pull the loop through to
tighten the knot. The resulting loop should not slip, whether you pull on
the loop or on the ends.
Ashley Bend
The Ashley
Bend is the most secure method I know for joining two ropes (of the same
diameter) end-to-end to make one longer rope. I use it when I need to make a
guy line or tow rope longer, string a bear bag higher in the trees, or create
an extra-long laundry line for drying out gear. Once secured, I've never seen
this knot slip or release, yet it is always easy to untie, even after it has
been subjected to high loads.
To tie
the Ashley Bend:
Put a small loop in the end
of each rope and lay them out, overlapping, exactly as shown.
Position the loop of the top
rope over the loop of the bottom rope so that they create a third loop.
Pull both ends back through
the third loop you just created, and tug to tighten the knot.
Try to pull the two ropes
apart to test the security of the Ashley Bend. If tied correctly, it
should not slip or release.
Spiral Stopper
It may
seem surprising that I would include this knot, particularly since it is
technically closer to being "decorative" than "functional"
in most people's eyes. Even so, I've used this knot so often that I've come to
consider it one of the six essential knots in my repertoire. It doesn't perform
any significant function except to add bulk to the end of a rope, but where
adding bulk is concerned, it's hard to beat the Spiral Stopper.
Why would
you ever need to add bulk to the end of a rope? Well, there are many possible
reasons, but the two most common are: (1) to keep the end of the rope from
slipping through some hole, loop, or pulley through which it has been passed,
and (2) to weight the end down to prevent it from whipping in the breeze or to
make it easier to toss in a particular direction.
To tie
the Spiral Stopper Knot:
Make a loop, making sure to
leave plenty of slack in the end.
Pinch the throat of the loop
with your finger to prevent the loop from closing. Wrap the end of the rope
around the loop in a spiral fashion, at least five times, taking care to
keep each coil moderately tight. (Add additional wraps to make the
resulting spiral stopper knot longer and heavier, if desired.) When you run out of slack,
pass the end of the rope back through the original loop. Tug on the end to tighten
the knot, and slide the coils together snugly toward the end of the rope.
Knot Basics and Beyond
The six
knots discussed above should prove capable of handling just about any
knot-likely situation you might encounter. Combined with the well-known
"slip knot," you should be able to (1) tie a loop that slips or
doesn't slip, (2) make rope longer or shorter, (3) add loops in the middle of a
rope, (4) secure a line with adjustable tension, (5) clamp, lash, or constrict
a variety of materials, and (6) add weight or bulk to the end of a rope for a
variety of purposes. The possibilities for combining these knots and solving
difficult rigging scenarios will be limited only by your imagination and the
amount of rope you have on hand.