Good Knots for Scouting, etc.

[brucev]

I greatly value the experience of Boy Scouting. Much of what I learned has well served me throughout life. Many of the skills especially in the outdoors have been extremely useful.

I have not had a lot of experience in sailing, etc., but I spent many years pruning trees, doing take downs, etc. where knots and the ability to tie them was essential. Many of the men who work on my crew had no idea of how to tie basic simple knots/hitches.

I found this site that offers excellent visuals to demonstrate how to tie common and not so common knots/hitches, etc. It goes far beyond The Fieldbook that I used in Boy Scouting. Maybe some of the knots/information will be of use to you.

Animated Knots by Grog | How to Tie Knots | Fishing, Boating, Climbing, Scouting, Search and Rescue, Household, Decorative, Rope Care,

 

[Cooter Brown]

I ran across that site a while back, Bruce. It's really good.

Every man should have 4-5 knots & hitches at his disposal. It's amazing how many don't.

 

[dave b]

If you can tie a bowline, you almost don't need the others.

 

[doublesharp]

A uni knot for splicing line & rope is a good one but I agree that a bowline is the knot I'd use if I had to tie sheets together to escape from a ten story building. Strong knot that is easily untied. You won't ruin the sheets unless you stain them with your backside on the way down the sheet ladder.

 

[Comrad]

If you can tie a bowline, you almost don't need the others.

Bowline and a square knot are my go to knots with the occasional half hitch.

 

[longranger]

The bowline and how to use figure 8 knots,i.e..directional,in line ect. The figure 8 knots for synthetic fiber ropes, conventional knots for natural fiber ropes, even though the 8's work well on both.Figure 8 knots are used for moving people for rescue operations, few other knots for specific applications such as webbing.
Old days in the fire service you were tested on every kind of knot, sheep shank,becket bend,half hitch,clove hitch,bowline and few others.You had to know these knots in your sleep,ladders and ropes,ropes and ladders, that was your trade, wet stuff on the red stuff.

 

[brucev]

When I first went to work pruning trees/orchards and doing take down, my father required that I be able to tie all the common knots used in such work without looking at my hands. I thought he was being extreme. Later in actual practice, I found the ability to reach around a tree and tie a knot blind to be invaluable.

A few weeks ago I noticed the next door neighbor and his wife standing beneath a very large tall dead oak tree in which their cat was sitting. They were very upset that the cat might fall. So... I trotted back to the parsonage and got my climbing gear out of the tool box. I only had a good 5/8" rope and some short shank spurs. It has been well over 20 years since I had to tie a saddle, etc., but in just a few minutes I got it tied and went up the tree. Just as soon as I got to some good limbs, I tied in and proceeded up to the top of the tree. The cat was in an ill temper. So I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and held him out over the neighbors. They had a large piece of plastic sheeting which they held like a net. I dropped the cat square in the middle of the improvised net. He took off into the bushes like a streak of lightening. I rappelled out of the tree just like I would have done years ago. It really was a hoot.

 

[Jst1mr]

^^^^^^^
Hmmmmm... I have spent a considerable amount of time in this life gazing into the treetops and have yet to see a cat skeleton in one...

 

[kozmic]

My "go to" is the frayed knot. I use it daily. It is perhaps the most useful knot in existence.
"Can you leave your card game early and stop for milk"?...frayed knot!
"Sweetheart, can I have some cash for my hair dresser"?...frayed knot!
"Can you shovel the sidewalk before you leave"?....frayed not!
"Honey, can you come to dinner at my parent's house"?....frayed knot!
"Will you be home in time to walk the dogs"?.....frayed knot!
"Can you take my car today and fill it up"?...frayed knot!

As you can see, it's uses are virtually limitless.
YMMV!!!

 

[Stevens]

If you can tie a bowline, you almost don't need the others.

don't forget the rolling hitch!
Steve W

 

[Rule3]

Sheet Bend is my most common knot.

 

[ChuckS1]

The most common knot I run into is a Gordian...

 

[brucev]

^^^^^^^
Hmmmmm... I have spent a considerable amount of time in this life gazing into the treetops and have yet to see a cat skeleton in one...

I agree! But, they dearly love their cat. They are frail. It was pitiful to see them out there trying to coach that cat down out of the tree. And it really wasn't a problem to go up and get the cat out for them. They are my next door neighbors. The gentleman is the former pastor of the churches I currently pastor. I've done similar things for other folks who were upset about a dog, etc. Maybe that makes me a nut. Who knows?

 

[Biginge]

Bowline on a bite is a great rescue knot .

 

[longranger]

We have knotheads running things

 

[MSgt G]

I use this site for my high school students for a survival class I teach. It really helps them. I use it for their neckties too.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

I find a taut line hitch to be a very useful knot.

 

[DeadAye]

I probably use the clove hitch more than any other knot. The figure 8 and Becket bend are close behind.
If you like knots - Try a figure 8 with an extra twist

 

[andrewb70]

Here is a great youtube channel that demonstrates how to do some very interesting weaves and knots:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TyingItAllTogether

 

[etc1006]

I, too came up in scouting. Many time knots have come in handy. Our training/"competition" used to be if we could tie them behind our backs. Lotsa great memories of being a Scout... And even a leader for a time in my early 20's in my troop. I've even come across some of the young men I lead in the troop over the past couple years on Facebook. It's a damn shame that video games and computers have taken front seat instead of Scouting when it comes to one of my best experiences in learning to be a man... There's even apps for iOS and Android with knots.