When aboard a boat ropes are no longer called
ropes, they are called lines. At least three and preferably four lines
should be carried aboard for docking. A bow line to secure the bow; a
stern line to secure the stern, and at least one spring line to reduce
fore-and-aft movement. The diagram below shows four lines used. Although
the stern line will keep the boat from moving forward too much, to be
safe a fourth spring line running from the dock cleat forward could be
used.
There are five basic knots that every boater should know. All knots used
by boaters are designed to be easy to tie, take a tremendous amount of
strain and then be easy to untie.
The five knots are as follows, and you should practice until you can tie
them without thinking about it.
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Cleat
Hitch
In order to secure the
boat to a dock or secure a line to the boat you will probably use
the cleat hitch. Take the line to the ear of the cleat furthest
from where the line comes from (the load). Take one wrap around
the base of the cleat and then start a figure eight across the top
of the opposite ear. Finish with a half hitch turned under so that
the line is coming away from the cleat in the opposite direction
from which it came in.
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Bowline
Also called the "king" of
knots, the bowline is very versatile. It is used to form a temporary
loop in a line which may then be put over a piling or cleat. It
can also be used to attach a line to an eye. This knot won’t slip
or jam.
Start by making an overhand loop which looks like a six (see first
figure). With the end of the line, come up through the hole in the
six, around the back of the line you’re holding and back down through
the hole in the six. Grab the part of the line that went up through
the hole and the part of the line that came back down through the
hole in one hand, and the top of the line you were holding in the
other, and pull. |
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Square knot (reef knot)
Simple to make, the square knot is used
for lots of light duty including tying things down. Start with an
overhand knot like you were beginning to tie your shoe. Keeping
the ends of the lines in your hand on the same side, cross them
again and tie another overhand knot. If you don’t keep them on the
same side you’ll end up with a granny knot which will jam. |
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Round
turn and two half hitches
Used to permanently tie to a piling,
mooring or ring. Simply take a full turn around the object being
tied to and take two half hitches around the line itself. Over and
up through and under and down through. |
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Clove
Hitch
Used to temporarily tie to a piling
this knot can come loose. You may add a couple of half hitches as
above to make it more permanent. This knot is simply two loops with
an end tucked under. |
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by Paige Ackerman