Knots are to join ropes (lines) to each other or to solid objects. There are many knots. Average person may know about 10 (a very small subset) and may not know best choice for a particular purpose. Readers have survived thus far with (probably) limited knowledge of knots. Here I try to sell the idea of learning more. For that I link a website: Animated Knots by Grog | How to Tie Knots | Fishing, Boating, Climbing, Scouting, Search and Rescue, Household, Decorative, Rope Care, This is grog. Grog informs about knots good for various purposes. Animations make it about as easy as it could possibly be to self train. A fella could learn just a few, get happy about that, and then dip deeper. Animations plus purpose descriptions let you choose, and no one will ever see your mistakes. Grog is not 'oh God' but it could be viewed as an effective use of internet to share a (narrow) aspect of accumulated human knowledge.
Knots have been one of my weak points, due in part to lack of parental direction (step-dad is lousy at knots, puzzles, and math, and can't even puzzle out how to untie a square not without a knife) and never having been a Scout. So this sort of comprehensive list is useful.
My favorite is the 'sheepshank' because it can be used to shorten and tighten a load. Just keep it in tension or bad things will happen. Bob Wilson
The bowline is one of the most useful knots I have ever learned! The Ashley Book of Knots¹ should be mandatory reading for everybody (IMNSHO) ¹
BTW, A Pedant writes: You seem to be confusing a knot and a hitch (second part of your first sentence)
Since Toyota says US Prius drivers are not supposed to use hitches their use is limited on this forum.
Thanks!! I bookmarked that one. I'm with @WilDavis on the bowline. I learned it while helping replace the guy wires on a 190' tall radio tower in Honduras. What a great knot!
i learned all the knots when i learned how to sail, but have since managed to forget every one, except the sneaker. (and i'm not far off from velcro) i can't even tie a tie anymore.
For me, a knot was one nautical mile per hour and grog was what the old pirates used to drink. But my favourite knot has to be the Reef knot, but our daughter's daughter thinks her Granny Knot is best of all.
Submariners are notoriously poor line handlers, and even though i also have as much time ON the pond as I do IN the pond, I've always been somewhat ham-handed with knots. I'll give the link a tumble when I get time between my cycling, arduino, and raspberry tinkering....
