Topic Knot for You

[Black_Fly]

I'm a knot nut. There, it's out there. I love tying, retying and learning knots. I've forgotten too many. I was bored and playing with my new camera on a solo last year, so I captured my favorite knots for tarp pitching. If I could fit a mule in my canoe, I'd have some even more exciting examples of packing hitches.

If you're a knot nut too, lemme see your babies.

 

[PaddlingPitt]

Can you tell us the names of these knots, black fly?

 

[Black_Fly]

Can you tell us the names of these knots, black fly?

probably

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

The one in the first one has to be the famous spaghetti hitch. Right?

 

[PaddlingPitt]

probably

Perhaps I used the wrong word, Black Fly. I didn’t mean can you tell us what the name of the knot is, as in are you able to tell us. I meant would you tell us, or will you tell us? I’m no knot expert. I pretty much use taut line hitches to secure tarps. I’m interested in what you use. Perhaps I’m overlooking some useful alternatives. Based on the following link, I almost certainly am!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hitch_knots

 

[Black_Fly]

The spaghetti one is called a daisy chain, takes up the live end, pulls out in one tug. There’s bowlines one the tarp loops, slick packers hitches, double fisherman’s, sliding loop knot (not the real name), and a double sheet bend maybe. I’m knot real good with names.

 

[PaddlingPitt]

I use the daisy chain on the very long pull cords for my blinds. Really takes up the slack, and lots of fun to pull loose!

 

[latremorej]

Yup, daisy chains are a great way to keep longer lengths of rope in order. I stuff a 100' hank of dyneema into an outside pack pocket with the tag end sticking out. Hassle free deployment. My two favorite knots are the bow line and truckers hitches.

when I'm bored and have no connection, I open an app in my phone... Animated Knots by GROG. quite the list with animations and even some different uses in the details.

Jason

 

[Bob B.]

I try to utilize a few main knots. My go-to's are bowline and Trucker's hitch. I also use half hitches to secure my lines. I incorporate a self designed knot similar in form and function to a prusik, but it holds better. I use that to attach a tarp to a ridge line. I on occasion use a cows knee and others, but the 4 listed above are my bread and butter.

Bob.

 

[alsg]

Article discussing knots for joining bungie cords. https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/the-angler-and-the-zeppelin/

 

[Boreal Birch]

That first knot looks like the kind of knots we used to get on old bait casting reels, they were called a backlash and like this knot were considered by many to a be a nightmare.
I like my ropes and cords coiled, wrapped and secured in a mesh bag that can double, when filled with rocks, as a anchor when fishing.
I do like a tarp in fair and foul weather, really hate crawling around and through rope and cord mazes to get in or out of them.

 

[Odyssey]

For the knot uninitiated here is a fast and easy video demonstrating 2 basic knots you'll likely use often when camping, trucker's and bowline.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnlaQHIoCs8
Otherwise I go to Animated Knots every springtime for a refresher.

 

[Black_Fly]

That first knot looks like the kind of knots we used to get on old bait casting reels, they were called a backlash and like this knot were considered by many to a be a nightmare.
I like my ropes and cords coiled, wrapped and secured in a mesh bag that can double, when filled with rocks, as a anchor when fishing.
I do like a tarp in fair and foul weather, really hate crawling around and through rope and cord mazes to get in or out of them.

Boy you are aptly named, aincha? That first knot is a double sheet bend, great for securing two ropes of the same diameter. I use it to make loops too, as it is stronger than your breath (sorry). I don't know any experienced rope people badmouthing the double sheet bend, unless they were using it for the wrong thing or didn't know the trick to getting it undone. In that case, I refer you to the first part of the preceding statement.

Now, it so happens that these photos preceded thunder storms that burned up the park, from which my tarp stayed sound until I decided damage would be inevitable and I struck that tarp in a couple minutes, quick releases all around. I should have taken photos with that tarp filled like a parachute one minute, like a big beach chair the next. Turns out wind speeds went up to 70 mph later that night, I guess that tarp endured upwards of 40 mph before I dodged raindrops and thunder claps to strike it. Trees were heaving their roots all night, and I slept uneasy, the tent lighting up like a lantern.

 

[PaddlingPitt]

I use a bowline to attach my bow and stern painters to the grab loops. I use a bowline to attach the guy ropes to the tarp. I use a tautline hitch to easily adjust the tension on the tarp guy ropes. I still use ropes to secure my canoe to my van. For that I use the good old trucker’s hitch. Useful and fun knots. The bowline is particularly fun when one remembers about the rabbit coming out of his hole, around the tree, and back down in his hole.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FE1rg-yjtro

 

[Black_Fly]

Bowline is a magnificent knot. A slick bowline is nice where a quick release is needed or desired. When picketing animals, I often had to tie or untie that knot blind, on frozen ropes. My daughter learned to tie one behind her back. I wonder if she remembers it?

 

[Boreal Birch]

Sorry that I ruffled your wing tips a smidgen.
Just adding my .02, which is what one of the things this forum is about.
Thanks for noting that I am aptly named. I live the far North & my home is in a beautiful birch forest. As far as my stong breath goes, well I doubt it will reach to the far South East edge of the Mid-West, so that should not concern you.

 

[Black_Fly]

Sorry that I ruffled your wing tips a smidgen.
Just adding my .02, which is what one of the things this forum is about.
Thanks for noting that I am aptly named. I live the far North & my home is in a beautiful birch forest. As far as my stong breath goes, well I doubt it will reach to the far South East edge of the Mid-West, so that should not concern you.

No worries dude. Take more than that to get my back hair up. Sorry I mis-read your handle. I was thinking you were Birch with a “t”. My statement doesn’t make much sense without that clarification.

 

[Zac]

I like your style, Black Fly. I do the 'spaghetti hitch" aka daisy chain with my tag ends all of the time. To the uninitiated it looks like a godawful mess but to those who know it's great. I ran a roustabout outfit in western ND for a few years and I would secure ratchet strap tag ends like this whenever possible... it drove some of my coworkers bonkers until I showed them how easy they are to take out and then most of them started using them! Not sure what the DOT thinks about them but there was no DOT in "Oilfield Vietnam"

I tie a lot of prusik knots, especially a bi-directional slip prusik that I use on most guy lines/stakes. I do have permanent prusiks on tarp ridgelines but I enjoy tying them when out in the field too as it keeps me up on my knot game. For me, learning knots has been hard work and if I don't tie knots on occasion I will lose my ability to remember how to tie them. I appreciate the adjustability of a prusik so much that it has taken the place of the trucker's hitch for me in all but the most demanding applications. Sometimes I have to experiment a bit to find the prusik that two ropes like the most... for example I spent quite a bit of time this winter finding the right line/knot combination that would hold on taut, super-slick Dyneema (it is possible!) I like to set my tarps up with slips of one sort or another everywhere (finished with a daisy chain) so take down is fast - just keep pulling on that tag end until things fall over. When I set my tarp up like this I find it is very important to secure the tag end with a daisy chain to prevent premature take down. Half hitches help as well.

No life experience has ever educated me about knots as much as time spent on horseback in elk country. Something I should be doing every year if for no other reason than to keep the knots fresh in my mind. "What are you doing in September?" "Taking a 3 week knot refresher course"

A couple of years ago I was very intrigued by all the cool little titanium insects sold by DutchWare and others but instead of purchasing trinkets I have learned knots to replace them. I don't have any titanium insects to compare to but I imagine the extra length of rope ends up lighter. That being said, what does it matter as you should always have extra rope anyway?

 

[red langford]

I learned most of my best hitches from the late Phil Cotton.

I use the Western Saddle Cinch for a ridge line and half hitches to secure the tarp to it. Bowlines are another favourite. I use a prussik for one of my tarps too which fascinated me.