Page 10 - Knots and Splices (1st Edition)

KNOTS & SPLICES BK5.0 1/21/06 11:02 Page 9

5 7

6 8

5 REEF KNOT 6 GRANNY KNOT
The Reef Knot or Square Knot can be The Granny Knot or Lubber’s Knot
tied when there is tension on both will either slip undone or jam tight.
parts. It is used to enclose or bind It should never be used and is recog-
something – for example a bundle nized by the ends standing out rather
of sticks or a section of the sail when than lying beside the standing parts.
reefing. (Its first name comes from
its use in reefing a sail; its second 7 SLIPPED REEF KNOT
from its symmetrical shape.) The
knot can slip if the two parts are The Slipped Reef Knot or Draw
of different dimensions or materials Knot is just a Reef Knot (5) with
and can spill if one end is tugged one working end formed into a loop
sharply, especially if used with shiny, through the centre of the knot. It has
synthetic rope. For these reasons it the advantage of being easy to untie.
should not be used as a bend to join
two lines. The knot consists of two 8 DOUBLE SLIPPED REEF KNOT
Overhand Knots (1) tied on top of
each other with the second formed The Double Slipped Reef Knot or
in the opposite direction to the first. Bow Knot is most commonly used for
This results in the ends lying neatly tying shoe laces, but is equally good
alongside the standing parts. Follow for sail ties. The form is ‘square’ in
the pattern: left over right and tuck the same way as a Reef Knot and it is
under, right over left and tuck under. easily undone by pulling on the ends.

9