Page 187 - Adlard Coles "The Knot Bible"

Simple coil
KNOT SCORE
Keeping your lines neat and tidy is one of the secrets of happy knot-tying, Strength

and learning to coil them properly is the first step in that direction. Pretty Security
soon you’ll be able to do it with your eyes closed. First, however, you’ve Diffi culty Tying
got to decide which school of rope-coiling you belong to, because there’s Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
more to this activity than meets the eye.
You might think coiling rope is a the type of rope you are using, right-handed, which means it’s best
straightforward matter. After all, it’s whether you are left-handed or coiled clockwise. In practice, if the
just a matter of stacking a load of right-handed, and how the line rope has already been coiled, it’s
loops in a neat pile and lashing them is going to be stowed. There are, usually easier to coil it the same way
together, isn’t it? Flick through a few however, a few hard and fast rules. as before. You can help the loops lie

books and search the internet, If coiling a halyard or any line flat by twisting each one half a turn
however, and you’ll see everyone attached at one end, start from the inwards as you add them to the coil.
has their favourite method. end nearest the cleat. This means Modern rope is non-directional,
Should you put a twist in each any tangles can be shaken out of the which means it doesn’t need to be
loop as you coil the rope? Should free end. twisted while coiling. To prevent
you alternate the direction of each Start with the standing part of the any twist creeping into the line,
loop? Should you twist the turns into line in your (non-dominant) hand, try coiling it into a fi gure-eight. It’s

a figure-eight? Should you fi nish and slide your other (dominant) a bit more messy, but better for the
with a gasket or a clove hitch? hand along the line to form the line. Another method is to alternate
Butterfly coil or alpine coil? loops. If you’re coiling a long length the direction of each loop.

It’s enough to make you dizzy – and of line, use your full arm span to Various methods of tying off the
that’s before you’ve tied a single knot! create each coil, and repeat the same coil are shown in the following
As ever, the best method for you span for each coil to keep them even. pages. Try them all and decide for
will depend on your circumstances: Three-strand rope is usually laid yourself which one is your favourite.

1 Make a coil, as described above. 2 Remove two loops from the top of 3 Take at least three turns, leaving
the coil. Put a high waist in the coil, at least half a loop to tie off the coil.
and wrap the working end around it.

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