Page 96 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

definition of a general-purpose bend. Which knot stiff or both, such as the frozen hawser I mentioned
you might use comes down in part to personal pref- at the beginning, without sacrificing any of a good
erence; every knot has a friend somewhere. bend’s virtues. This is a specialized challenge that
It doesn’t seem reasonable, but here’s one more none of the previous knots is well suited for. But here
demand: Make a bend in line that is very large or are two that are.

Figure 3-34. The Strait Bend. Make a counterclock- The Carrick Bend
wise loop, end behind standing part. Drop the other This beautiful knot is the traditional big-rope bend
end into this loop, then make a clockwise loop with (Figure 3-35). It’s made with an easily remembered
that end, with the end also behind the standing part over-and-under sequence, and since there are no
(A). Pass both ends into the eye (B) to finish (C). sharp curves, wrestling with the subject is mini-
mized.
The Carrick Bend will not jam, but owing to the
ornery massiveness of the line it is usually formed

Figure 3-35. The Carrick Bend. Make a counterclock-
wise loop, end in front of standing part. Place the
other piece’s standing part on the loop, and thread
end in regular under-and-over sequence as shown.
Drawn up (B), the Carrick Bend is secure but bulky,
with a poor lead, and not easily untied. It is usually
left loose (C), with ends seized to standing part, for
ease of untying.

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