Page 164 - The Knot Bible

KNO TS

Sheepshank tied
KNOT SCORE
with ends Strength

Security
A sheepshank in the bight is not particularly secure, and can be easily Diffi culty Tying
Diffi culty Untying
spilled if the two protruding loops are nudged in the wrong direction. This
Usefulness
can be avoided by using the ends to ‘lock’ the knot.

1 Tie a sheepshank in the usual way 2 Pass the ends through the loops 3 Tighten the knot, and you’ve
(opposite). The ends here are lined at either end of the knot. got something that bears more than
up ready for the next step. a passing resemblance to a pair
of bowlines.

Sheepshank with clove hitch

If the ends aren’t available,
the sheepshank can be made
more secure by turning the
half hitches at either end into
a pair of clove hitches. This is
particularly useful if extra coils
are needed to shorten the line.

KNOT SCORE
1 Tie the sheepshank as shown 2 Add another half turn at either
Strength
opposite. More coils can be added end to create the two clove hitches.
Security
if the line needs to be shortened Tighten the knot.
Diffi culty Tying
further.
Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness

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