good knots?

[LemonyLeprosy]

okay. i've got some rope, i've got a knot tying app on my cell phone. i dont remember anything from cub scouts. what are some good knots to learn to tie down gear and loads for long hauls?

[SeaDog]

Ashley Book of Knots, the definitive work.

[SeaDog]

Or you could go down on the waterfront or CG Station and tell them you need to know how to secure stuff.

[LemonyLeprosy]

I've got a great app with a couple hundred knots, I just don't know which ones are useful.

[Yankee Dog]

bungee cords.

[D K]

Learn the bowline.

Its the most important knot in my opinion. Secure and doesnt tighten up on itself.

[4PawsHacienda]

Bowline by far an extraordinarily useful knot, square knot also, along with half hitches should get you through most situations.

[LemonyLeprosy]

Thank you both! I'll learn 'em tonight.

[thetourist]

The Truckers Hitch is very useful for tying down loads. Can be used as a crude winch, also.

Bowline for tying off one end of the rope and the Truckers Hitch for cinching down that duffel. Almost as good as ROK Straps.

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

Ashley Book of Knots, the definitive work.

Yes, the juice - knot porn.
I learned to appreciate proper knots during my Boy Scout years, and that never stopped.
For simple things, a guy only needs to learn 4-6 differents knots.
Personally, I like a rolling hitch above a clove hitch, because it will stay secure in more varied directions.
You can construct your own personal knots (self-devised) very successfully once you understand why they are made certain ways - the forces involved.

Lashings are also very cool. And if you can't splice, you can't dice...

Some people apprecaite this, and others are just knot interested.

To the tourist: Yes that one should be learned by everyone.

[Jeff B]

I"m a Flyfishing instructor on the weekends, so I'm called upon to teach knots from time to time.

I can't compete w/some of these animated knot websites.

Type in "animated knots" in your browser and check some of them out. One of my favorites is this one.........



http://www.animatedknots.com/

[Ritalin Boy]

Excellent advice all ready.

Bowline, half-hitch (or two half hitches), square, sheet bend, stopper (variation of the figure 8), and slip along with the trucker's hitch have served well for a life-time of sailing.

IMO for touring the bowline and the hitches (including trucker's) are the knots you need to know. That's assuming everyone knows how to tie a square knot.

[SloMo228]

I'm not a fan of the square knot, I've seen it capsize under high loads and have heard about several fatal climbing accidents caused by the knot failing when used to join ropes. Just tying the ends of both ropes into an overhand knot is supposed to be more secure (even though it doesn't look like it - which is why it's referred to as the Euro Death Knot in the climbing world).

Although it probably doesn't matter for riding since you're not likely to be applying huge loads to your tie-downs, there could be situations where the square knot could possibly fail. If you're using rope to try and pull a stuck bike out, for example.

[kentnothstine]

Bowline on one end taught line hitch on the other to tighten up the rope. This is my advice as an Eagle Scout. Good luck.

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by SloMo228

I'm not a fan of the square knot, I've seen it capsize under high loads and have heard about several fatal climbing accidents caused by the knot failing when used to join ropes. Just tying the ends of both ropes into an overhand knot is supposed to be more secure (even though it doesn't look like it - which is why it's referred to as the Euro Death Knot in the climbing world).

Although it probably doesn't matter for riding since you're not likely to be applying huge loads to your tie-downs, there could be situations where the square knot could possibly fail. If you're using rope to try and pull a stuck bike out, for example.

Granny knots are sometimes mistaken for square/reef knots, and they will fail under load. Learn the correct lay.
If I'm being picky, I'll add an extra hitch to each end.

Knots make for good campfire talk.

Sheet bends can take and extra hitch at their ends, if you feel so inclined.

Don't do granny knots - do the 'square/reef' right.
The surgeons knot is a good variavtion of the square/reef. I like it.