“To Tie,” or “Knots to Tie”
OR
“HOW TO PREVENT THE RAFT FROM
FLOATING AWAY”

The Anatomy of Rope
 3 parts of a knotted rope
 End
 Standing part
The inactive length of the rope
 Bight
Between working end and standing
part

Stopper Knots
 Used to keep rope from slipping out a hole or a knot
 Overhand Knot
Simplest and smallest of all knots
Used in small cords and twine
It jams and is hard to untie
 How to Tie:
Make an overhand loop
Pass end under and up through
the loop

Stopper Knots (cont’d)
 Used to keep rope from slipping out a hole or a knot
 Figure Eight Knot
Larger, stronger than an overhand knot
Does not injure rope fibers
 How to Tie:
Make an underhand loop
Bring end around and over the
standing part
Pass the end under and up
through the loop

Binding Knots
 Used to tie one or more objects together
 Square Knot
Good temporary knot
Unties easily when either free end is pulled
 How to Tie:
Pass the left end over and under the right
Curve the left end towards the right
Cross the right end over and under the left
Remember: “Left over right, right over left”

Loop Knots
 When security comes first
 Bowline
“King of Knots”
Never jams or slips
 How to Tie:
Overhand loop with end held toward you
Pass the end up through the loop, then up behind the standing part
Then down through the loop again

Hitches
 Temporary fastenings that untie readily
 Half hitch
Used for fastening to an object for a right-angle pull
 Two Half hitches
Just two half hitches (it’s that easy!)
Quite secure
Used for mooring and on fishing hooks
 How to Tie:
Pass the end of the rope around the object
Tie an overhand knot to the standing part
Repeat once more above the first knot

Hitches (cont’d)
 Temporary fastenings that untie readily
 Clove hitch
The “general utility” hitch
Used to fasten a rope around a post or stake
Best used at the middle of a rope
 How to Tie:
Make a turn with the rope around the object and over itself
Take a second turn around the object
Pull the end up under the second turn so it lies between the rope and
object

Bends
To tie two ropes together
Should be used on ropes of same size and texture
 Sheet Bend
To join light and medium ropes
Unties easily
Does not injure rope fibers
Not best for heavier ropes
 How to Tie:
Make an overhand loop with the end of one rope
Pass the end of the other rope through the loop
Pass that end up behind its standing part
And down through the loop again

Fisherman’s Knot
 To tie two ropes together
 Joins small rope, twine, and fishing line
Very strong and easy to undo
Can be used to form a loop in one strand of rope
 How to Tie:
Lay the two ends together in opposite directions
Tie an overhand knot in the end of each around the standing part of
the other

Information Gathered From:
 Plymouth Cordage Company. Useful Knots and How to Tie
Them.
Plymouth, MA: Seabrook Shipyards, 1946.