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To tie a blackwall hitch, form a bight at the end of a rope, and put the hook of a tackle through the bight, so that the end of the rope may be jammed between the standing part and the back of the hook.

Blackwall Hitch

To tie a blackwall hitch, form a bight at the end of a rope, and put the hook of a tackle through the…

To tie a carrick bend, lay the end of one rope over its own standing part so as to form a bight. Put the end of the other rope through this bight under the standing part, over the end beyond the bight, under the standing part beyond the bight, and down through the bight over its own standing part.

Carrick Bend

To tie a carrick bend, lay the end of one rope over its own standing part so as to form a bight. Put…

To tie a clove hitch, first pass the end 'a' around a spar, and cross it over 'b'. Pass it around the spar again, and put it through the second bight (Fig. 1). This is a knot that is very useful and safe. For making a line fast to a bollard, the whole process can be quickly done by an expert by merely throwing two loops, placed rightly, over the top of the bollard, and pulling taut (Fig. 2).

Clove Hitch

To tie a clove hitch, first pass the end 'a' around a spar, and cross it over 'b'. Pass it around the…

To tie a fisherman's bend, take two turns round a spar, then a half hitch round the standing part, and between the spar and the turns, and lastly, make a half hitch round the standing part.

Fisherman's Bend

To tie a fisherman's bend, take two turns round a spar, then a half hitch round the standing part, and…

To tie a bowline knot, lay the end of the rope 'a' over 'b' so as to form a bight 'c'; pass the end 'a' round behind and under 'b', and through the bight; continue with 'a' to pass it under the standing part 'b', and through the bight 'c' in the opposite direction. This knot forms the best loop that will not slip.

Bowline Knot

To tie a bowline knot, lay the end of the rope 'a' over 'b' so as to form a bight 'c'; pass the end…

To form a half-hitch, pass the end 'a' of the rope around the standing part 'b', and through the bight.

Half-Hitch Knot

To form a half-hitch, pass the end 'a' of the rope around the standing part 'b', and through the bight.

The most common type of knot, the overhand is made by passing one end of a line over the line and around it, then passing it through the loop.

Overhand Knot

The most common type of knot, the overhand is made by passing one end of a line over the line and around…

A reef knot is formed by taking an overhand knot and repeating the overhand knot process (pass one end of the line over the line, pass the line around, then feed the line through the loop) with the opposite end of the line (Fig. 1): if two overhand knots are made the same way, the result will be a 'granny' (Fig. 2).

Reef Knot

A reef knot is formed by taking an overhand knot and repeating the overhand knot process (pass one end…

To form a sheet bend, pass the end of one rope through the bight of another, round both parts of the other, and under its own standing part.

Sheet Bend

To form a sheet bend, pass the end of one rope through the bight of another, round both parts of the…

To make a crown on a single wall knot, take one of the ends, 'a', and lay it over the knot: lay 'b' over 'a', and 'c' over 'b', and through the bight of 'a'. Pull the ends taut.

Single Wall and Crown

To make a crown on a single wall knot, take one of the ends, 'a', and lay it over the knot: lay 'b'…

Unlay the end of a rope, and with the strand 'a', form a bight. Take the next strand 'b' round the end of 'a'. Take the last strand 'c' round the end of 'b', and through the bight made by 'a'. Haul the ends taut. This knot is for the purpose of forming a stopper, and to prevent the end of the rope from coming apart.

Single Wall Knot

Unlay the end of a rope, and with the strand 'a', form a bight. Take the next strand 'b' round the end…

To tie a timber hitch, take the end 'a' of a rope round a spar, then round the standing part 'b', then several times round its own part 'c'.

Timber Hitch

To tie a timber hitch, take the end 'a' of a rope round a spar, then round the standing part 'b', then…