How to Sail - Know your boat & knots - understand what knot to tie and when

Don't get tied up in knots! Knots are important when sailing. Anyone can tie any two pieces of rope together but you will not be able to undo them unless you tie them correctly. There are a vast number of knots created, but we focus on the 5 most common and simple knots to tie. With practice you will be able to tie these quickly and use the skills away from sailing as well in other activities.

[@JP-xg2jg]

Got my first lesson on Saturday, this video is helping! Thanks

[@lovemrj4ever]

A lot of information, clearly and concisely presented. As always!
Cheers!

[@frundlemud]

as a potential sailor, very helpful.

[@sailaboattv]

Many thanks. Be sure to check out the other videos on our channel

[@robsinHL]

KNOTS... start at 8:00 mark. Youre welcome :)

[@jakewillssailing]

0:53 is the club i go to, very good

Thank you!!!!!

[@ROBBANKS666666]

I feel like an able seaman already!

[@SH-xq4dq]

Reef knot not exactly for joining two pieces of rope , rather two pieces of rope of the same thickness .....add a hitch to each tail for a stronger knot
If I recall it’s the sheep shank that can join different sizes of rope which might be handy

[@sailaboattv]

Thanks for the comment. We show how to tie the knot which has many uses. It does tie two pieces of rope together. Through 20 years of instructing the challenge is getting people to tie a reef knot and NOT a granny knot which if this video helps prevent that then I judge it as a success.

[@grzegorz7556]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@sailaboattv]

You're welcome!

[@DC-qh8nc]

thank you. Very helpful

[@sailaboattv]

Thanks

[@RonFinegan]

Great video

[@sailaboattv]

Just4One thanks, glad you like them . Checkout our Facebook group just started if you want to join a new community

[@richardblackdog3966]

"Finally, grab the tail and pull tight" 8:40 I tried this but my dog let out a frightened yelp. What am I doing wrong?

[@sailaboattv]

Richard Blackdog did you squeeze the tail and pull or just pull? I think the problem could be if you squeezed too hard ;) happy sailing

[@dot7307]

Oh ...oh no..

[@windrider3698]

I am building my very first sailboat
This video helps me alot!
Thanks : )

[@sailaboattv]

Glad the videos are helping! There are full length videos on sailing the Laser as well on the channl

[@kurtschmidt5746]

Can we please tell folk never to use the reef (square) knot as a bend?

[@sailaboattv]

Sadly hard to do. What we try to show is how to tie the square knot properly. I notice people generally use what we call a granny knot which is impossible to undo. Granted the square knot isn't the best knot to use, but it does have uses on a boat.

[@grantdixson1442]

That is not a cleat knot. That's not really a knot. Others were helpful.

[@sailaboattv]

There are many many types of knot. We show just 3 or 4. Sure there are others but the ones we show work for dinghy sailing

[@tubaoren1393]

Can you please write all the definitions on the screen while you are explaining the terminology ? Thanks

[@sailaboattv]

Thanks for the feedback. We will bear it in mind on future videos
Try the closed captions option in TH-cam. This may help

[@argonwheatbelly637]

There are no ropes. Lines, sheets, halyards, etc....but no ropes. ;-)

[@sailaboattv]

Ok point taken. Thanks for the comment

[@RonFinegan]

There is a rope on a boat but only found on ships... the bell rope 🔔

[@argonwheatbelly637]

@@RonFinegan : Well, a bell rope is a bell clapper's lanyard. But yeah, there are a few more "ropes": Bolt, Foot, and Tiller. That's it. I don't know of any more than those, and a Foot Rope is for square-rigged work, i.e. standing on the yard.

[@RonFinegan]

Sorry forgot about the bolt rope that runs along the foot of a main sail if it’s attached to the boom 😆

[@argonwheatbelly637]

@@RonFinegan : Nah, bolt ropes are everywhere...people just don't realize it. Look at roller furling jibs. That's a bolt rope on the luff. And some mains are bent on, no bolt. It all depends on your plan. :-)