Know Your Knots

[davel501]

This is a great series on knots. Now just to figure out how to tie one without dropping your phone in the water.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSrVa8gUFaPxld204vzh0iZQgbYGs1oq4

 

[Britboater]

Most basic knots are fairly easy, a bowline is all you really need to practice with IMO.

 

[txav8r]

Seems to me the most misunderstood and least used, that should be the most used, is the Cleat Hitch. I use a bowline occasionally, but I use a cleat hitch every time I tie the boat to the dock. My fenders have kwiklocs, so I don't use a knot there. Here is an animation for a cleat hitch, you need this one!
http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/cleat-hitch/
Thanks for posting @davel501 !

 

[Zarrella]

I also use the Cleat Hitch....great and simple knot!

 

[KXCam22]

The figure 8 is also vital. Three knots and you are good. I like to make my bow lines into a yosemeti hitch since almost no one knows what it is. A funny story. I once crewed on a racing sailboat. The captain/owner used to yell at us lots during the races but then buy lots of beer later. A few weeks later everyone (but me) quit and a new green crew arrived with me as the crew boss ( a whole 3 weeks experience). I was the boss because I was the only one on the boat who could tie a knot. Cam.

 

[Julian]

Never really thought of the cleathitch as a knot...but it is crucial!

 

[txav8r]

A clear hitch is really a figure 8 over a loop wth a locking half hitch. Call it what you want but it is indeed a sailing knot!

 

[Bbottom]

All knots mentioned are very useful and have their own specific uses. One that I like that is super quick and easy is the Clove Hitch. Also a good directional inline knot is a Butterfly Knot. The main application that i use a Butterfly for is tying things down and having a loop to tighten from.

 

[AmesJainchill]

Going all the way back to my uscg aux classes circa 89/90, and specifically the marlinspike sections, the knots I found most useful from that in my (non sailing) experience over the years were the two half hitches, bowline and fig 8.

Thanks for posting those links though! Will definitely check them out and see how they could help in my current day applications!