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Sailor’s knots are so called because they are very secure when
tied properly, but never jam and can be readily undone, even when the
rope is wet. Knots can be used for a variety of purposes, from merely
preventing a rope from running through an eye or pulley, to joining two
pieces of rope together, or creating loops that don’t slip. A proper
knot can mean the difference between life and death aboard a sailing ship.
Knowledge of 5 basic knots can go a long way towards making a sailor a
useful and helpful member of a ship’s crew. On the Picton Castle,
we have knot tying classes anytime new hands come aboard. Come to class
with Daniel, Kate, and Crista and learn some of the more frequently used
knots: the square knot, the figure eight, the sheet bend, the round turn
with 2 half hitches, and the king of all knots, the bolon. And remember
the words of the chief mate, “If you can’t tie a knot, tie
a lot!”
Objectives:
Students will:
know how to tie 5 of the basic sailor’s
knots
explain what each is used for
know why they work (won’t jam, physics
of strain, friction, etc.)
Materials:
A length of rope (approx. 1 meter) or for each student if done in the
classroom. Shoelaces work ok, too.
A long piece of rope to stretch across the classroom for students to tie
knots around
Ashley’s Book of Knots (less for reference than for perspective
on numbers and uses of knots)
Copies of or photocopies from Knots and Splices, by Jeff Toghill, or other
simple knot reference books
Procedure:
For the following knots, the following terms will be used:
End – refers to the last few centimeters of the rope
Standing part – the main length of rope
Bight – A curve in the rope created by bringing the end to the standing
part but not crossing them
Loop – Formed by crossing the end over the standing part
It would help to draw a picture of a rope and label the parts and to
do each step with an actual rope as you read through.
The Five Knots:
Square Knot
(also called the Reef Knot)
1. Form a bight in the first rope (you can use each end of the single
rope to represent 2 ropes)
2. Bring the end of the second rope over the standing part of the first.
3. Take the end of the second rope over the standing part of the first.
4. Pass the end of the second rope round behind the standing part and
the end of the first rope, thus completely encircling the bight.
5. Bring the end of the second rope back over the end of the first rope.
6. Pass the end of the second rope down through the bight alongside its
own standing part.
7. Pull tight.
The square knot is used for reefing sails and for joining together two
ropes of equal size.
The Figure Eight
1. Pass the end of the rope over the standing part.
2. Take the end under the standing part away from the loop (forming sort
of an “8”).
3. Bring the end of the rope back up over itself towards the loop.
4. Pass the end down through the loop.
5. Pull tight.
The Figure Eight is a stopper knot, used to prevent a rope running through
a block. Commonly used for the sheets of a sailing boat.
The Sheet Bend
1. Create a bight in the end of one rope.
2. Pass the end of the second rope up through the bight and over the end
of the first rope.
3. Continue the end of the second rope round behind the end and standing
part of the first rope so that it completely encircles the bight.
4. Pass the end of the second rope under its own standing part to form,
in effect, a half hitch around the bight.
The Sheet Bend is used for joining two pieces of rope. Of particular
use when the two pieces of rope are of different sizes.
Round Turn with Two Half Hitches:
(Kate’s favorite knot – it’s the only one she knows
really well!!)
1. Pass the end of the rope through or around the length of rope or
other object.
2. Pass it around again without crossing over itself.
3. Take the end of the rope over the standing part and make a half hitch
by:
a. Passing the end of the rope over and around the standing part, creating
a loop.
b. Continuing the pass the end of the rope right round the standing part
and back through the loop.
4. Continue with the end of the rope over the standing part again and
bring it up through the loop to form a second half hitch.
The round turn with two half hitches is an excellent hitch for securing
the end of a rope to any object.
The Bowline
(pronounced bolyn – the king of all knots):
1. Measure off the size of the loop required and create a small loop
in the standing part of the rope by passing the end over the standing
part.
2. Bring the end of the rope up through the small loop and around the
back of the standing part.
3. Continue by passing the end of the rope back down through the small
loop.
4. Pull tight.
The bowline is used to form a loop that will not slip, but unties easily.
And now you’re ready to come aboard the Picton Castle as a fully
functional crew member!
Assessment:
Give the students a situation and ask them which knot they would use.
What are they trying to accomplish. Then have them tie the knot.
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