LESSON B: KNOTS

FIGURE 8 KNOT

Description:
The easiest knot to learn is the figure 8. It's just a simple overhand knot with a twist to it. It's a stopper knot, to prevent a line from running all the way out of the boat and going overboard. a simple overhand knot would also work to stop a line, but it might jam and become very difficult to untie.
STEP 1
Hold the free end pointing away from you and loop it towards you crossing over the line.

STEP 2
Wrap it behind and pull it up through the loop.

STEP 3
Pull to tighten the knot.

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CLEAT HITCH

Description:
The second easiest knot is cleating a line with a hitch. It is a simple and reliable way to secure a line to a cleat on a dock or on a boat

STEP 1
Wrap the line around the cleat once.

STEP 2
Cross over the top and create a figure-8 using the horns of the cleat.

STEP 3
To secure the hitch, keep the end under the last loop of the figure-8 and parallel to the line coming from the first turn of the figure-8.

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SQUARE KNOT

Description:
The next knot is the square knot a.k.a the reefing knot. Again, it's tied the way you tie your shoes (minus the bows). the rule for tying a square knot is "left over right, right over left". If you make a mistake and go left over right, left over right, you will end up with a granny knot. this might be OK on your shoes, but it's not a good sailing knot because it might slip or jam. The square not is a very useful one which can be used for quickly tying the ends of two lines together.

You can use one length of rope to simulate the ends of two or use two different ropes for this example.

STEP 1
Take a rope of medium length and form a loop, crossing the ends.
Tuck the ends and pull slightly to lengthen the amount of slack.

STEP 2
Cross the ends again like in STEP 1, but this time in the opposite direction.

STEP 3
Repeat STEP 2 and tuck the ends. Pull the knot tight by pulling evenly on the two free ends. The center of the knot should have a square shape.

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CLOVE HITCH

Description:
To attach a line to a post or other such object, use a clove hitch - tied around the object as shown in the diagram. Don't use a clove hitch to tie your dog to a tree. If the dog runs around the tree in a certain direction, the clove hitch will untie itself. Do use a clove hitch to tie a boat to a piling on a dock--assuming the boat can't travel completely around the piling. The clove hitch is easy to tie and easy to untie.
STEP 1
To practice this hitch, you can use your leg. Remember, this hitch is used when one end is connected to something already. So you might want to tie one end to something as a reminder to only work with the free end.

Start by looping the "free end" over your leg and wrap it under and pull it around so that it crosses.

STEP 2
Repeat the loop of the first step, pulling the end around so that it passes underneath the "non-free" end.

STEP 3
Pass the free end through the place where the rope crosses over. By pulling both ends you can tighten your hitch.

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BOWLINE

Description:
A very useful knot on a boat is the bowline. This securely attaches a line to a sail or to any fixed object on deck or on the dock. The best part about a bowline is that no matter how much weight it is given to hold, it won't slip. And even after it's been heavily loaded it is still easy to untie.

The bowline makes a loop in the end of a line. It is usually taught with the story of the rabbit which is the bitter end of the line (the frayed end). The rabbit comes up out of its hole (the circle made in the line), around the tree (the standing part of the line - usually attached to the boat or another fixed object), and back down through its hole - right next to where it came out, but in the opposite direction. But remember: when making the rabbit hole and the tree to have the "tree's" roots go under the ground--that means the tree end of the line must be underneath when the circle of the rabbit hole is formed.

STEP 1
Create a loop in the line and thread the free end through that loop.

STEP 2
Wrap the end around the back of the line above the loop and pull it through the loop in front.

STEP 3
Pull and shape the loop. A good bowline should untie easily and not create knicks in the line.



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