Top Three Essential Knots for Boaters

The importance of “knowing the ropes” and a few associated knots in boating cannot be overstated. They are essential to so many aspects of boating, learning just a few will go a long way to making your time on the water more enjoyable, safer and more secure.

And while there are scores of knots for various maritime purposes, the three listed here are a basic starting point. These are essential, “must know” knots. They are easy to tie, and will get you by for most of your on the water needs. Here is how to tie them.

1. Bowline

2. Sheet bend

3. Clove Hitch

Bowline

The bowline creates a loop on the end of a line, which is incredibly useful and has too many on the water applications to mention. But the one feature of a bowline that makes it invaluable is that it can be untied, even after being tightened and carrying a load.

There are many ways to tie a bowline, but here is a video of the method I find to be quickest and easiest for me.

Sheet Bend

The sheet bend is used to attach two ropes together, and works even with ropes of different thicknesses. It’s a fast, super simple knot when you need a longer line. Like a bowline, it can easily be undone even after its been tightened.

How to tie.

Clove Hitch

The Clove hitch is an extremely useful, multi purpose knot. Again, perhaps most commonly used to tie your boat to a bull rail on a dock. Some docks will have cleats, others will have bull rails. You can also use a clove hitch to tie off to a post, or even to another line.

How to tie.

Like anything, it takes a bit of practice to tie knots correctly. Incorrectly tied knots can and will come apart, usually at all the wrong times! So when learning knots, its a good habit to tie them and re-tie them several times so when you come to use them, it will be second nature. It will also give you confidence in your knots which lets you sleep at night. Knowing your boat isn't going to drift, or get blown off of what you tied it to is well worth a few minutes of practise! Sometimes, we need to tie a knots in a hurry like when winds are strong, waves are rough and things are breaking and/or need to be secured fast. Knowing what knots to use and being able to tie them quickly and reliably without thinking about it can be invaluable.