Page 38 - Jim Whippy - Reeds Knot Handbook

If you need to tie two ropes together, the Zeppelin bend is
by far the best choice of knot because you can guarantee
the ropes will not separate. The other advantage to this knot
is that it will not jam and can be easily undone even if it has
been subjected to a powerful force.
As the name suggests, this knot gets its name from the
airships, or dirigibles, of the 1920s which were commonly overhand Knots and hItches
called Zeppelins in honour of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.
When filled with helium, these ships needed a secure
mooring, so the ropes required a knot that could take a
massive strain. The Zeppelin knot did just that and, although
perhaps not so commonly used today, it is one that should
be encouraged as it could definitely be classed as one of the
best knots of all time.

3
Take the standing part
A
of rope B and bring it
across the front of its own
B working end.

4
A Take the working end of
rope B and pass it through
the resulting loops – over
B and then under.

5
A With the two working
ends of A and B now in
opposite directions, pull
B on all four rope parts to
tighten the knot.

37

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