Knots to Secure Your Boat to the Dock. Whether you are heading out for a leisure cruise or plan to have a weekend trip, you won’t be able to dock without knowing the basic tying knots. Beginner boaters get a little overwhelmed with this task. Hundreds of knots are used for various errands, such as stowing a rope, tying your boat to the dock, etc.
Some knots have a dedicated function, while others are used as the situation calls for. This is why you need to master a couple so that you know how to secure your boat to a post.
Are you ready to learn some knot-tying skills? Here are our top five knot picks you to need to memorize:
Bowline
Learning the bowline is a must! It’s the first knot that every boating instructor teaches. It’s called the “King of Knots” as it’s a multi-purpose knot. It allows you to create a loop on the rope’s end that can be used for lifting, mooring, or hitching.
Here are the steps on how to tie this knot:
- Hold the rope from one end with the other hanging down
- Create a small one-on-one end
- Bring the other end up and pass it from underneath through the loop you made
- Hold on to this end and wrap it beyond the loop
- Pass it once again through the loop
- Tighten the knot by holding the end made beyond the loop
Clove Hitch
This is a temporary fastening knot that is relatively easy to make. Once you get the hang of it, you can make it with one hand. If you want to strengthen this knot, you can add two half-hitches.
The clove hitch can be made in two different ways, allowing you to tie it around a pole with the end open or a rail.
Following are the steps on how to tie this knot:
To a Rail
- Wrap the rope around the pole
- Wrap the rope again but this time, cross the live over the first wrap
- Before tightening the second wrap, pass the rope’s end back underneath and then tug hard
To a Pole
- Make a loop
- Pass the rope over the pole’s end
- Make another loop, flip the other end over the first loop and pull tight
Half Hitch
The half hitch is a simple knot. It can be tied over and over again around a horizontal post. Some boaters tie this knot without any backup, which is not a good idea because it can slip. So, wrap the rope twice to make a double half hitch.
Here are the steps you need to follow to tie this knot:
- Take one end of the rope, tie it around a post, and secure it with a half hitch
- Make a second half-hitch right underneath the first one
- Continue making as many half hitches as you want
- Pull the end of the rope to secure it
Rolling Hitch
This knot is used for a stopper and allows you to release pressure so a block winch can be cleared. The rolling hitch can be used to connect a thick rope to a thin rope or a rope to a spar.
Here are the steps you need to follow to tie this knot:
- Wrap one end of the rope around a pole
- Make sure the tag end is on the standing line
- Make another loop around the pole, and once again, make sure it is on the standing line
- Make the third loop but this time, make sure it is above the standing line
- Pass the tag end from underneath the third wrap
- Pull tight and secure the knot
Anchor Bend
This knot allows you to fasten a rope to a boat’s anchor. You can secure the knot further with a half hitch.
Following are the steps on how to tie this knot:
- Wrap the rope loosely around an anchor shackle
- Make sure there’s enough rope left to finish the knot
- Pull the tag end from behind the standing line
- Bring it through the loops
- Wrap the rope around the standing line one more time and pull it through the loop to create a half hitch
- Pull the rope and secure tit
You will easily find visual representations online of these knots, making it easier to follow the steps.
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