5 Best boating knots to know on the water
Didn’t master all the boating knots throughout the busy summer season? No problem! The fall is the perfect time to learn what types of knots are necessary for your boating and water sport needs, while practicing until you master them as the calmer, crisper fall boating season arrives. And don’t stop there. Keep practicing. By next summer boating season, you’ll be a pro!
Boating requires a ton of industry knowledge before you venture out on the water. It’s important to be and feel fully prepared. At Dockshare, we want the water to be more accessible to everyone, which is why we created our platform for private docking; however, we realize that you will need a lot more than just a dock to begin your boating adventures. Below are some helpful boating knots that every water enthusiast should know before they hit the water.
1. Cleat Hitch
The cleat hitch is simple and essential to use. It connects any rope to any cleat. This knot is useful for tying away stray ropes and temporarily attaching a boat to a stable structure. To complete this knot, you need to fully wrap the rope underneath the cleat for a full rotation. Next, make a figure 8 on top of the cleat and tuck the loose tail underneath the top cross of the figure 8. Check out this video on how to tie off a cleat hitch for a better visual.
2. Bowline
The Bowline is great for making a static loop that will hold strong without shifting. This knot can be useful for towing any object off the back of the boat. Check out this American Sailing Association video on how to tie a bowline for best results.
3. Square Knot
A square knot is versatile and useful. This knot is best for connecting two lines of equal thickness together and can be used for holding things down and furling sails. It is very simple to tie- just make one overhand knot with both ropes and then use the tails to tie another overhand knot. Watch this tutorial to better understand how to tie a square knot.
4. Figure Eight
This knot securely ties the ends of ropes and is easily undone, even after experiencing a lot of tension. The figure eight is great for docking and mooring, and for keeping ropes from slipping out of riggings. For a visual teaching of the figure eight knot, check out this simple tutorial to get started.
5. Double Half-Hitch
Finally, the double half-hitch, (also known as the two half hitches) is commonly used in mooring because it can be used to tie around any pole, piling, or post. This knot is simply an overhand knot followed by a half-hitch. To get a better look at how to tie the double half-hitchknot, check out this video.
We’ve only scratched the surface with our favorite and most used boating knots. There are plenty more knots where these came from. For a more complete list with tutorials, check out Animated Knots’ videos. The more you use the boating knots, the more you become a master. You may even be able to do it with your eyes closed soon!! If you need a place to practice your Double Half-Hitch, book a dock with Dockshare and tie up to your heart’s content.