How to tie a sea knot

The history of the use of knots goes back many millennia. According to scientists, even cavemen used simple knots in their everyday life. Sailors are the ancestors of complex types of knots. With the advent of sailing ships, there was a need for convenient and reliable knots to secure the mast, sails and other gear. Not only the speed of the ship, but also the life of the entire crew depended on the quality of the knot. Therefore, sea nodes are very different from ordinary ones. They are not only reliable, they are easy to tie and just as easy to untie, which cannot be done with ordinary knots.

The classification of nodes came to us from England. Usually the British divide sea knots into 3 types:

  1. Knot – needed to increase the diameter of the rope or weave something.
  2. Hitch – attach the rope to various objects (masts, yards, anchors).
  3. Bend – connect ropes of different diameters into one.

There are about five hundred descriptions of sea knots, but only a few dozen are currently used, as motor ships are replacing sail ones. The ability to knit sea knots will be useful not only for yachtsmen, but also for tourists and fishermen. Step by step mastering the diagrams below with pictures, you will quickly learn how to do it.

straight knot

Although this knot is one of the most ancient, it does not differ in reliability. Its disadvantages are frequent displacements on the rope, it is not easy to untie it after heavy loads and getting wet, and also with such a knot, the strength of the rope decreases. It is used for light tacking on light pulls and splicing the two ends of the cable. On its basis, more complex knots are knitted. Despite the fact that the knot is very simple, it has its own nuances. The free ends should be on one side of the rope. If they are located on different sides, then such a knot is considered incorrect and is called not simple, but thieves.

How to knit a straight knot:

  1. A regular knot is tied.
  2. From one fixed end of the end rope we make a loop.
  3. With the free end we encircle the outside of the loop and wind it inward.
  4. We tighten. It turns out the correct node. For greater reliability, another regular knot is tied on top.

Arbor knot (Bowline)

In yachting, this knot is used more often than others. Initially, it was used to tie a gazebo – a device with which sailors climbed onto the ship’s mast. For this he got his name. This knot has no drawbacks, it is easy to tie and untie. They can tie ropes of different diameters, materials and not be afraid that it will untie. Most often it is used when mooring a ship or in cases where you need to make a loop or tie something.

How to knit a gazebo knot:

  1. We make a regular loop.
  2. We put the free end inside the loop and braid it diagonally around the fixed end.
  3. We skip back inside the loop.
  4. We tighten the ends of the rope. In order for the knot to be strong, it is very important to tightly tighten the ends.

figure eight knot

In appearance it looks like the number 8, so the name speaks for itself. The knot is simple, but very important. On its basis, more complex knots are knitted. The advantage of the figure-eight knot is that it will never move or unravel under load.

With it, you can make handles for a wooden bucket or fix strings on musical instruments.

How to knit a figure eight:

  1. We make a regular loop.
  2. We turn our loop 360 degrees and thread the free end inside the loop.
  3. We tighten.

How to knit a loop-eight:

  1. Fold the loose end in half to form a loop.
  2. We make a second loop near the double end.
  3. Rotate the second loop 360 degrees.
  4. We pass the first loop inside the second.
  5. We tighten.

knot knot

This knot is a self-tightening loop. Its advantages are simplicity and speed of knitting, reliability and easy untying. Suitable for tying to objects with a flat surface.

How to knit a noose:

  1. Make a loop at the end of the rope.
  2. We make a second loop to make a bow.
  3. We wrap the free end of the rope 3-4 times around.
  4. We push the end from the back into the second loop.
  5. We tighten.

blood knot

In ancient times, such knots were knitted on a cat – whips with nine or more ends. The cat was used as an instrument of torture and discipline on the ship – the blow was very painful, lacerations did not heal for a long time. For this knot and got its bloody name.

How to knit a bloody knot:

  1. The free end of the rope is wrapped around the fixed end twice.
  2. We tighten.

flat knot

It is used when you need to tie the ends of a rope of different diameters or from different materials. Well withstands heavy loads and getting wet. But this is not the easiest knot, it is easy to tie it wrong. The most important nuance when knitting a flat knot is that the ends of the ropes should be parallel to each other.

How to knit a flat knot:

  1. From the thick end of the rope we make a loop.
  2. The thin end goes inside the thick one.
  3. Two turns are made over the thick end.
  4. We tighten.

Clove hitch

Initially, this knot was used to fasten vyblenok – thin ropes, from which stairs for the guys were made. It is one of the most reliable tightening fasteners. Its peculiarity is that greater reliability is possible only under load. Also, its reliability is affected by the surface on which it is tied. A big plus of the faded knot is the ability to tie it with one hand. It is used to fasten the rope to objects with a smooth and even surface – logs, masts. On objects with edges, the faded knot will not be as effective.

How to knit a tie knot:

  1. The free end of the rope is wrapped around the object.
  2. An overlap is made.
  3. We pass the end into the formed loop.
  4. We tighten.

The second way (knitting with half bayonets):

  1. We make a loop. The long end of the rope is on top.
  2. We throw a loop on the object.
  3. At the lower end of the rope we make a loop and throw it on top of the object.
  4. We tighten.

Anchor knot or fishing bayonet

For more than one millennium, it has been used to attach a rope to an anchor. Also, with this knot, the ends of the cable are tied to any mounting hole. It is a reliable and easily untied knot.

How to knit an anchor knot:

  1. We pass the end of the rope twice through the loop of the anchor or other mounting hole.
  2. We throw the free end of the rope over the fixed end and pass it through the loop formed.
  3. We tighten both loops.
  4. From above we make a regular knot for reliability.

Stop knot

It is used in cases where it is necessary to increase the diameter of the cable.

How to knit a stop knot:

  1. Fold the rope in half.
  2. We apply it to the main.
  3. With the free end of the locking rope, wrap the main and second end of the locking rope 5-7 times.
  4. The fixed end that we wrapped is returned to the loop of the locking rope.
  5. We tighten both ends.

Clew knot

Sheets were previously tied with such a knot – tackle for controlling the sail. Currently, it is used to tie ropes of different diameters. Not suitable for knitting synthetic ropes as they are slippery.

How to knit a clew knot:

  1. From a thick rope we make a loop.
  2. We wind a thin rope inward, bend around the loop and wind it under itself.
  3. We tighten.

Leave a Reply