Applications

Question 1

Double Fisherman’s Knot (Grapevine)

Answer 1

Securely ties two ropes together or can be used to fasten the ends of a rope or cord to make a loop. Climbers tie just one side of the knot to create a backup knot with the tag end of the primary knot.

Question 2

Ashley Stopper Knot (Oysterman’s)

Answer 2

Makes a well-balanced trefoil-faced stopper at the end of the rope, giving greater resistance to pulling through an opening than other common stoppers. Essentially, the knot is a common Overhand noose, but with the end of the rope passing through the noose eye, which closes upon it.

Question 2

Knute Hitch

Answer 2

Used to attach a lanyard of paracord or other small diameter cordage to an object such as a knife.

Question 3

Heaving Line Knot

Answer 3

This knot adds bulk and weight to the end of a rope making it easier to throw the line.

Question 3

Trucker’s Hitch

Answer 3

Used to cinch down a load. This combination of knots allows a line to be pulled very tight. Probably the most useful hitch there is, the Trucker’s Hitch allows a line to be pulled tight as a guitar string and secured. It is used by truckers to secure heavy loads in place and works equally well tying canoes and other objects to the tops of cars. Once the line is pulled to the desired tension using the pulley effect of the loop in the middle of the line, the knot is secured with a couple half hitches around one or both lines.

Question 5

Highwayman’s Hitch

Answer 5

Can be used as a temporary mooring knot for a small boat or to tether an animal. The standing part of the rope takes the load while the working end is tied to slip free with a tug. The Highwayman’s Hitch is not a safe knot for any type of human load as it can be released or slip accidentally!

Question 5

Water Knot

Answer 5

The best knot to use when tying knots in webbing. Can be used to make slings and grab handles. Climbers most commonly use the Water Knot, also known as the Ring Bend, for tying webbing into loops.

Question 6

Stevedore Knot

Answer 6

An excellent stopper knot, quite bulky. It likely gets its name from its use as a stopper knot by stevedores (a person employed at a dock to load and unload cargo from ships). To raise and lower cargo they used large block and tackle and these required a rather large stopper knot to prevent the rope from running completely through the block.

Question 7

Zeppelin Bend

Answer 7

Also known as the Rosendahl Bend knot, is used to tie two ropes together. It is an easy knot to tie, very secure, and jam proof.

Question 8

Alpine Butterfly

Answer 8

• Forms secure loop(s) in the middle of a rope.
• Can take a load in any of the three directions, independently or together.
• Useful for tying-in the middle climber when traveling three to a rope.
• Useful for making non-slip loops in the middle of a rope to attach carabiners to provide purchase points for a winch line.
• Can be used to isolate a damaged section of a rope.

Question 9

Anchor Bend

Answer 9

Generally used to fasten a line to an anchor.

Question 9

Bowline

Answer 9

Forms a secure loop that will not jam and is easy to tie and untie. It is most commonly used for forming a fixed loop, large or small at the end of a line. This knot is reliable, strong and stable. Even after severe tension is applied it is easy to untie. However, because it does untie so easily it should not be trusted in a life or death situation such as mountain climbing. It is said to retain 60% of the strength of the line in which it is tied.

Question 9

Constrictor Hitch (Miller’s)

Answer 9

A useful knot to tie up loose materials or the ends of bags. It grips itself and will not work loose. The knot stays tied and grips itself so well that it is often impossible to untie.

Question 10

Figure of Eight Loop

Answer 10

The figure eight follow through is one of the strongest knots. It forms a secure, non-slip loop at the end of a rope. This is the most widely used tie-in knot by mountain climbers. The reason is that it is strong, secure and easy to visually inspect. Climbers often further secure it by tying a back up knot with the tag end.

Question 12

Buntline Hitch

Answer 12

Use this knot to fasten items such as snaps and rings to rope or cord. Forms a small, neat and very reliable knot. Once set, repeated jerking tends to tighten it further rather than loosening it. It has gained in popularity in recent years due to its performance in slippery modern synthetic lines.

Question 13

Pile Hitch

Answer 13

A simple knot that is used to attach a rope to a post or other object. When the end of the post is available, the knot can be tied with a loop in the rope, without access to the end of the rope.

Question 14

Palomar Knot

Answer 14

Comes close to being a 100% knot when tied properly. The best knot to use with braided fishing line.

Question 15

Lighterman’s Hitch

Answer 15

When tied around a towing post or hook, this is a superb hitch for securing one boat, barge or ship to another. It also serves to belay a heavy-duty ship’s mooring or a marquee guy-line. Whatever the use, it will hold fast, but it cannot jam and is quickly cast off.

Question 16

Pedigree Cow Hitch

Answer 16

The Cow Hitch, also called the Lanyard Hitch, Lark’s Head and Lark’s Foot, is used to secure a rope to a post or other object including another rope. It is similar to a Clove Hitch except that the second half hitch is in the opposite direction. It is about as reliable as a Clove Hitch, which is to say it should not be trusted in critical applications.

The Pedigree Cow Hitch is more reliable, but still not to be used in critical applications.

Question 19

Clove Hitch

Answer 19

A simple all-purpose hitch. Easy to tie and untie. A good binding knot, but as a hitch it should be used with caution because it can slip or come undone if the object it is tied to rotates or if constant pressure is not maintained on the line.

Question 20

Honda Knot (Lasso)

Answer 20

Creates the most nearly-perfect circle of any knot. Its round shape, especially when tied in stiff rope, helps it slide freely along the rope it is tied around, which is what makes it good for a lariat.

Question 21

Ashley’s Bend

Answer 21

Can be used to join vitually any two materials. It is a secure bend, retaining 100% stability, and can take a load in any of four directions. When formed at the center of two lines it can serve as a four way tie down. It may be difficult to untie after being heavily loaded.

Question 22

Bowline on a Bight

Answer 22

Forms a secure loop in the middle of a line. Useful when you want a non-slip loop but a free end is not handy or to provide two loops in the end of a line. This knot can be used as a sling or as a seat or bosum’s chair in an emergency rescue situation. The two loops can be worked to different sizes if needed.

Question 22

Midshipman’s Hitch

Answer 22

An excellent knot to create an adjustable loop at the end of a rope. The knot can be slid up and down the standing line to increase or decrease the size of the loop (and thus the length and/or tightness of the standing line) but when load is applied the knot holds securely.

This knot is relatively easy to tie or untie under load.

Question 23

Perfection Loop (Angler’s)

Answer 23

Strong and effective, the Perfection Loop is a favorite for tying a loop at the end of the line. Besides being strong and reliable, it can be crafted to make a very small loop if desired.

Question 25

Harness Bend

Answer 25

This bend is especially useful when the line has to remain in tension, e.g., when tying up parcells.

Question 26

Albright Special

Answer 26

Angler’s knot. One of the most reliable knots for joining lines of greatly unequal diameters or different materials such as monofilament to braided line.

Question 27

Rolling Hitch

Answer 27

A very secure and easy to tie method of fastening a rope to a post. The knot holds firmly in the direction of standing line. The Rolling Hitch is much more secure than the similar clove hitch when tying a rope to a pole or other object.

Question 28

Carrick Bend

Answer 28

An excellent knot to join two ropes, particularly large diameter ropes and hawsers. It draws up tight under load and although it may lose its symmetrical shape, remains secure. The tag ends may be seized to the standing lines for added security.

Question 30

Flemish Bend

Answer 30

A very secure knot to join two ropes, closely related to the figure of eight loop. It is strong, secure and easy to visually inspect. Climbers often further secure it by tying a back up knot with the tag end

Question 31

Sheet Bend (and Doubled)

Answer 31

Useful for tying two ropes together, even when rope sizes and materials differ greatly. It is suitable for most non-critical applications. For more security, use the doubled version (Becket Bend) which is the same as the single version but with an extra coil around the standing loop. The Sheet Bend also goes by the name of Weaver’s Knot when employed in yarn or twine. It is commonly used for joining threads that have parted in a loom or as a permanent knot tied in small material.