Let’s Get Knotty
You have to admit that both sailors and truck drivers are probably the best in the world at tying knots. In this module, we’ll make it so that powerboaters are included on that list – well, at least the ones that pay attention to this module.
Why be good at typing knots
- You wish you were when the time comes
- It lets you geek out
- It gives your crew confidence that you know what you’re doing
- A good way to pass time
- It could save a life
- Tying a bad knot is embarrassing
- Tying a bad knot can be expensive
- It strokes your ego
Reasons to be bad at tying knots
- A desire to never be as good as a sailor or trucker at tying knots
The good news is that there are really only a few knots to learn that can get you by in life. We’ve added in a few other handy ones as well.
The honest truth about tying knots is that they are only learned through muscle memory. You simply can not watch the animations of how to tie these knots and know them thereafter. You have to tie them probably 50 times each to properly remember them and you have to continue tying them over time to stay current on them.
For now, get a piece of rope from the garage and have a little play now with a serious commitment to come back. Leave a piece of rope in your car so that when you’re waiting for your kids to finish a swim meet you can be tying these knots and using the NauticEd courses App on your phone to pull back up this module.
Here is the list of knots that we recommend that you muscle memorize. The following pages show animations of how to tie them:
- The Bowline
- The Sheet Bend
- The Anchor Bend
- The Clove Hitch
- The Cleat Hitch
- The Round Turn and Two-Half Hitches
- The Figure 8 Stopper Knot
- The Stvedore Stopper knot
- The Icicle Hitch
- The Knife Knot – an amateurs favorite
Oh notice there is no granny knot in the list above. On the last page we’ll describe a knife knot. At the worst case, remember this – if you can’t tie a knot, then tie a lot. But if you subscribe to this theory see the “knife knot”
