37 Comments
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dave borgatti's avatar

Trucker's hitch!

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Skip Johnson's avatar

Beat me to it ;-)

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David R's avatar

Hey Dave, long time! Are you still at WCC?

David R(ynning)

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Kyle Taylor's avatar

Alpine butterfly, for sure! And a Prussik hitch is helpful for climbing the mast and unjamming lines

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Grant Carlson's avatar

Alpine Butterfly is the most secure loop for the Truckers Hitch. Tons of other uses too.

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Grant Carlson's avatar

Great for adding loops in the middle of a line, which can also function as stoppers. And better than the old sheepshank for shortening a line, or to bypass a weak spot (in some cases). .

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Eric Russell's avatar

I was involved in an embarrassing incident in which two kids were briefly stranded in New York Harbor about 20 years ago. I put a bowline into the towline on the boat they were about to be towed in and, about a quarter mile out, it came undone. As they were the last boat in the tow, nobody in the string knew they were gone until I radioed the safety boat.

Ever since, I have made it a point to take an extra turn around the standing part of any bowline I tie.

Synthetic line [including nylon and dacron] is notoriously slippery, especially when exposed to salt water and, if there is {k}not enough friction, can slip at the worst possible moment.

I am also a fan of the trucker's hitch, as it helps make loads more secure.

The netting hitch is a useful variant on the bowline. I have macraméd bottles with it, as well as actually making netting and hammocks.

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Paul West's avatar

I've had bowline knots come undone also. I taught myself the double cobra knot this year to prevent that. I noticed it a few times on on other people's boats. It's a pretty cool knot, but I'm not sure it's better than the double wrap bowline.

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Tim Smith's avatar

I've come to rely on the Zeppelin bend for joining tow lines and making loops. Never had one come undone.

I've also found an astonishing number of uses for the Farrimond Friction Hitch, which is a little like a slipped Prusik. It's secure, simple to tie, adjustable, and quick-release.

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drowden's avatar

An absolutely bullet proof bowline is to have the double loops cross each other to form a clove hitch. It is called a Dutch Bowline our Wet Bowline. Down side it can be difficult to break without a marlin spike once it is has been under load.

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Barney's avatar

Rolling hitch, constrictor knot, reef knot, Zeppelin Bend or double sheet bend, anchor knot…knots are fun, and learning them keeps the mind supple

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Bill Rutherford's avatar

Ummmm, how about a rolling hitch in case you need to take the tension off an anchor line it halyard? Or a bottle hitch in case you want to keep your beer cold?😀

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Dick Dowdell's avatar

Good article! Many of the courtesies, customs, and skills that made recreational boating more safe and satisfying seem to not have been handed down to the younger generations. Thanks for helping!

https://dick-dowdell.medium.com/messing-about-in-boats-9f2da20b99a2

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Eric Russell's avatar

I, too, mourn the loss of MAIB. Old Ed, From the Liar's Bench.

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Tom Belknap's avatar

Clove Hitch — couldn’t get by without it!

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Suzan Wallace's avatar

Square

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Eric Russell's avatar

Oh, and never forget the Dragon Bowline.

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Grant Carlson's avatar

The Ashley (aka Oysterman's) Stopper. Far less prone to shake loose than the figure 8 knot and is the bulkiest of the simple stoppers. Excellent for making up quickie soft shackles.

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Dan Taylor's avatar

The rolling hitch with or without a bowline or trucker's hitch depending on the circumstances.

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Red OLeary's avatar

I'm a fan of the clove hitch the double dragon loop and the zeppelin and sheet bends.

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Christine's avatar

Rolling hitch: fenders, boom tent rigging

Double Bowline/Water Bowline: tenders and dinghy pendants

Bowline on a bight: jib sheet to jib clew

Anchor hitch: halyard shackles

Bull-Rail Hitch: round turn and two half-hitches but with the line doubled

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David Bower's avatar

Reef knot, midshipman's hitch, and constrictor knot. Knots fascinate me!

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Carolyn & Kees's avatar

It looks like all my suggestions have already been offered. Great minds run in similar circles!

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Joel Bergen's avatar

Carrick bend for tying two anchor rodes together

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