ropes & lines & knots

Ebbtide

Ebbtide

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 20, 1999
Messages
7,954
I see alot of mentions of paracord/lines in people's e-kits. This is all well and good. But please learn a few good knots. Too many times, while camping, I see people ruin perfectly good lines because they tie granny knots, can't get 'em out and cut the line!
The knots to know are:
The good ol' Square Knot
The Bowline (SP?) pronounced bo-lynn
The Prusic (Again SP?)
And one of my favorites, which has no name that I know of, an overhand knot with a double line. It is just like the first step in tying your shoelaces, but you put a loop thru the knot instead of an end. If you pull on the ends of the line the loop will pull out. Recognize it? That is really handy for tying off to trees and keeping the line TIGHT. If you tie the loop in before the tree then go around the tree and to the loop, you can cinch that puppy up tight. Very important with stretchy stuff like paracord.
The most important thing about all of these knots is that they come out easily.
2 more thoughts: If you need to tie 2 lines together, tie them bowline to bowline, then they will come apart when you want. The other is...If you only need 10' of your 50' line Don't cut it!!!! Loop up the extra and tie it off. I am amazed how many people do that and at the end of the year have 43 1/4' of knotted together mess.
I realize most of y'all out there know this stuff, but I thought it should be said out loud.
I would enjoy hearing your thoughts, tips and tricks too.

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Can it core a apple?
 
I would add a sheet bend and a tautline hitch to the list. You can get by without a tautline hitch, but it is handy for tightening lines.
 
The 'no name' knot you mention is similar to a Quick Release Venezuelan Hammock Knot used for holding hammocks, tarps, etc. securely and releases quickly.

For our work, we have replaced the bowline with a figure 8 on a bight. Supposedly the Figure 8 stresses the rope less than the bowline, and will not release into a slip knot like the bowline when it's improperly dressed and set. - Jeff



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Randall's Adventure & Training
jeff@jungletraining.com

 
I always enjoy the "what knot"... I can always count on at least one student, in each trip, to have this knot perfected before arriving to one of our classes. It has no design to it, can't be repeated, and never holds anything together.

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
There are actually quite a few good sites detailing the above mentioned knots among others.
Can't think of them now, but do a search and you will find all you need and more.

Peace

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The vague and tenuous hope that GOD is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the conscience of millions.

*A. W. Tozer

2 Cor 5:10
 
I would add a sheep shank, I use these on my guy lines on tents and tarps, great little knot I even have a modified version of it that I use sometimes. Geoff.
 
The name of the knot that Ebbtide describe is the SLIP KNOT or sometimes called a RUNNING KNOT. This knot is the basis for many other useful knots and purposes such as the Anglers Loop and a form of the TRUCKERS HITCH.

The knowledge of 6 different knots will serve most of the requirements of camping or survival .

1) A knot for forming a loop at the end of a rope,....BOWLINE.
2) A knot for joining two ropes or ends together .....SHEETBEND.
3) A knot for securing the end of the rope to an object........CLOVE HITCH.
4) A knot for general pupose binding .....SQUARE KNOT.
5) An adjustable knot.....TAUNTLINE HITCH , or PURSIK KNOT.
6) A knot for hauling and lashing ...TIMBER HITCH.

The Pursik knot can be easily formed by tying a square knot and collapsing the knot by holding the two ends that exit the working end of the rope and then pulling the other to ends apart. When tied llike this it will be recognized as a Larkshead. If in forming the square knot, two or three turns are taken on each side then the knot collapsed you will get a two turn or three turn Pursik knot respectively.
 
Gotta add my two cents' worth.
The strongest knot is a figure 8, when compared to a rope without a knot. Yes, if you don't already know this, tying a knot in a rope weakens it.
If you want to join two ropes, and it is important that the joined rope be as stong as possible, use a figure 8 pass through knot, backed up by either and overhand or a fisherman on each side. If it is also important that the ropes later be separated again, quickly, using a square knot, again backed up by the overhand or fisherman's, will only reduce the strength of the join by a few percent (5 to 10%). Showing my limited knowledge here, but the fisherman may be the same as the sheet bend. I just learned it under a different name.

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It just a ****ing staple!!
Guess who...
St. Mary's County, Republik of Marilundt


[This message has been edited by rockspyder (edited 09 December 1999).]
 
I think my dad always used the "I have 3 feet of extra rope so I will tie 53 knots on top of each other" knot. I have fond memories of hours spent untiing his knots.
smile.gif
 
Hi Rockspyder,

Agree with you on the figure 8, not only is it strong it's an easy knot to teach to beginners. Once they get this one mastered, the variations of the knot can be used for numerous applications...and you know they're safe using it. The Figure 8 rates among the strongest knots for end line knots, mid-line knots and end-to-end knots.

The only sheet bend I ever use is a 'tucked double sheet bend' for tying together 2 pieces of rope that are not the same size...it's a little differne than the Fisherman. - Jeff

------------------
Randall's Adventure & Training
jeff@jungletraining.com

 
WOW!
"The Quick Release Venezuelan Hammock Knot" That is a mouthfull! But it works, we also use it for securing the canoe to the top of the truck.
I am gratefully surprised for all of the answers...Got me to thinkin' I haven't tied a sheetbend in years! Time to dig out "Usefull Knots & Line Handling"

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Can it core a apple?
 
The knots that everyone is talking about that don't hold anything and don't come out without being cut have a name.I've always been told they're called axe knots, because you need an axe to untie them :-)

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
I use the clove hitch when I have to hing a branch over a 3 phase line.Works well and I find it to be the fastest and easiest to undo.Ive dropped 12" pine tops using this knot,with a 1" sampson bull rope.
Take care

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Jay
Life is like a box of chocolates,never know what your gona git!
 
Ahhh...there is nothing like sitting down with your child on a rainy day with some paracord and the Ashley Book of Knots. An absolutely terrific pastime, and a wonderful book.

Do you all know that the bowline, being assymetrical, can be tied in a right hand and a left hand manner? It turns out that the right hand manner is best for braided rope, as it is less likely to slip.

Here is a good site for knots: http://huizen2.dds.nl/~erpprs/kne/kroot.htm

And here is another one: http://www.netknots.com/boating_knots/boating_knots.html#

Hope this helps, and have fun! Walt
 
Ya'll forgot the most usefull aspect of line in wilderness situations. Lashings. Even knowing just a simple shear lashing can make shelter building much easier, and the utility of all those long stick of wood growing in the forest is multiplied when you add a few other lashes. I'd say that a shear and tripod lash would be the most important, followed by a square lash. With these, very easy frames can be made for a multidute of shelters, and they can be made much sturdier than without lashes.

And Walt, I think the difference in right vs. left bowlines would make a difference in twisted ropes, where there is a right or a left twist to it. Braided shouldn't matter.


Stryver, who once dreamed lashes for a whole summer.
 
Stryver; I meant twisted, or rope that is laid down in a helical manner. As opposed to kernmantle. Sorry for the confusion in my nomenclature. Walt
 
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