Essential knots
Fourteen knots that cover almost every working situation on deck. Diagrams show rope topology with crossings; for tying practice, use a real line.
Bowline
Forms a non-slipping loop at the end of a line. The king of knots for mooring and rescue loops.
Make a loop; pass the working end up through the loop; around the standing part; back down through the loop.
Bowline on a bight
Creates a secure pair of loops in the middle of a line without using the ends. Useful as an emergency bosun's chair.
Form a bight; tie a loose overhand with the bight; pass the whole bight over the two loops; dress and set.
Clove hitch
Fast attachment to a rail or bollard. Grip weakens under shifting load — secure with two half hitches for anything important.
Wrap once around the post; cross over and wrap again; tuck the end under the last wrap.
Sheet bend
Joins two lines of different diameter. More reliable than a reef knot for unequal lines.
Form a bight in the thicker line; thread the thinner line up through, around both parts, and back under itself.
Carrick bend
Joins two heavy hawsers. Symmetric, does not jam under load, unties cleanly.
Form a loop with one line; weave the second line over-under-over-under through the loop.
Round turn + two half hitches
Secures a line to a ring or post under steady load. Holds well, unties easily.
Two full turns around the object, then two half hitches around the standing part.
Figure-8
Stopper knot preventing a line from running out of a block or jam cleat.
Form a loop; pass the working end behind the standing part; thread it through the loop.
Reef (square) knot
Joins two ends of the same line of equal diameter — e.g. tying reef points in a sail. Not a bend; will fail on unequal lines.
Right over left, then left over right.
Anchor bend (fisherman's bend)
Attaches a line to the ring of an anchor. Stronger than a round turn and two half hitches for heavy pull.
Two round turns through the ring; half hitch through both turns; second half hitch around the standing part.
Rolling hitch
Attaches a line to a rope or spar such that it holds under lengthwise pull. Use for a stopper when rigging a tail onto a loaded line.
Two turns across the standing line in the direction of pull; one turn above, tucked under itself.
Trucker's hitch
Mechanical-advantage tightener — roughly a 3:1 purchase. For lashing deck cargo or tarps down hard.
Tie a slipped loop partway along the line; pass the running end around the anchor point and back through the loop; pull tight; lock with two half hitches.
Prusik knot
Friction hitch that grips a main line when loaded, slides when relaxed. Self-rescue up a line, ascending, or as a back-up.
Form a loop in a thinner cord; wrap it three times around the main line, each wrap inside the previous one; dress evenly.
Alpine butterfly
Forms a loop in the middle of a line. Load can pull on either end or the loop itself without slipping. Isolates a damaged section.
Wrap the line twice around your hand; pass the outer wrap over the inner two; pull the middle wrap out to form the loop.
Highwayman's hitch
Quick-release hitch — pull the tail and the whole knot collapses. Good for tying a tender's painter so it can be cast off fast.
Form a bight behind the post; pass a second bight of the standing part through the first bight; pass a third bight of the working end through the second; pull the standing part tight.