Essential Sailing Knots: Learn These Three and Tie Lots!
All crew report to the foredeck!
This episode is another one of our occasional ones where we focus on basic skills and show a few things that we think might help some new crew out there and hopefully pass on a different perspective to the seasoned old salts among you.
A lot is made of knots out there but the truth is a few basics learned well and practiced to mastery will cover 95% of situations that will arise. To go a little further, just a handful of knots make up the backbone of a much wider array of useful knots, bends and hitches and that is the subject we cover here.
In a professional setting, a significant part of a mariner's job is taking a new crew and getting them to basic competency in as little time as possible. We think we have put together something here that will address a few pitfalls for someone just 'learning the ropes' in an easy to grasp way.
As is often the case with our videos, we have put time stamps in the description in Youtube in the event you find this useful and want to come back to view something again or link to an idea for someone.
As always, thank you for your continued support and we send our best wishes to you and your loved ones
Sincerely,
Troy and Pascale
Essential Sailing Knots: Learn these 3 and Tie Lots! (YouTube)
Comments (18)
Thanks guys, I enjoyed that. Sometimes when you learn a knot (a term used for the organised tangling of rope) in one field (rock climbing, mountaineering), you fine yourself using it in other areas, I find myself using a Prusik knot on a lot of occasions that I need an adjustable and none slip knot, it’s just automatic.
The prussic is the backbone of the tree climbing system I use too. Something I will be grappling with again very soon!
I am "knot impaired". No seriously. I was diagnosed as dyslexic back in my youth and spelling, handwriting and knot tying have been difficult for me for all my 60+ years. I have no idea how many times I learned the bowline. I did finally get a good hold on the bowline when I was rebuilding African rope tuned drums but since I stepped away from that hobby, I am back to having to puzzle the bowline out most times I need it. I'm not complaining, it is just what it is...
Hope this comes in handy to refresh you when you need it Tim. I struggle with knots also. I don't think I'll ever forget these basics now after 5 years at sea but I've already forgotten some of the more complicated knots I learnt with Troy on Mirrool because I was not using them every week.
Awesome explanations, ⛵️😎
Thanks Elaine. Jet growing bigger every day - more updates soon :D
:)
Fantastic, thanks! I'll be revisiting this a few times with some rope...
You're welcome Scott.
A fascinating video, guys. TY for helping a land lubber like me understand.
You're welcome. We hope you can find some practical uses for these knots on land Joseph.
Good refresher! Maintaining skills in muscle memory is key, and Pascale's suggtion of finding ways to keep these techniques in your daily life really helps! Hope you're doing well! Cheers from Guam! 🇬🇺
Cheers mate. It brings us such joy to know that you are appreciating our videos out there in the middle of the Pacific.
Very helpful Troy and Pascale, I see myself returning to this video as there are useful tips for experienced mariners. Thanks, Ben S/V DAWN
I thought you were stalking me. I am literally sitting at my kitchen table with the laptop going over some knots with a page of animations, (https://www.animatedknots.com/boating-knots) and your email for this video appears....TROY! Get out of my kitchen.
Great stuff
We have been looking for some courses in learning knots this week, nothing out there, so timely video guys. Cheers 🍻
You're welcome!