Page 7 - Peter Owen - Knots
P. 7

INTRODUCTION



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                                    A knot is simply a cDlmeclion in a thread, cord or length

                                   of rope formed either by pnssing one free end - known as a

                                    working end - through a loop and drawing it tight or by

                                     intertwining or tying together pieces of thread, cord or

                                    rope.  However,  there are several quite distinct groups of

                                     knot - hitches and bends, binding knots, stopper knots,

                                    knots that form  nooses or loops QlId knots that join small

                                    lines together.  Each knot serves a different purpose, and

                                     although it is not necessary to know a large number of

                                       different knots - four or five should suffice in most

                                     circumstances - it is important to know which blOt is

                                      best suited to the conditions in which it is to be used.

                                     You should also bear in mind thai any knot,  no matter

                                    how carefully and securely tied, will reduce the breaking

                                    sirain of a line by between 5 and 20 percent. Just before it

                                      breaks, a knot slips. The more tightly you can draw a

                                     knot when you are tying it, the greater the strain it will

                                                   withstal1d before it slips.



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