Boating Knots

How to tie boating knots.

Boating Knots

Boating Knots

Anchor Hitch

Attach a line to an anchor, ring or post.

Ashley Stopper Knot

Ashley Stopper Knot

A bulky, secure stopper at the end of a rope.

Becket Hitch

Attach a rope to a fixed eye or loop.

Boom Hitch

Secure rope to a spar with parallel or right-angle strain.

Bowline

Relatively secure fixed loop at the end of a rope.

Bowline on a Bight

Bowline on a Bight

Secure double loop in the middle of a rope.

Bull Hitch (Bight)

Bull Hitch (Bight)

Securely attach a rope to a post, spar, or ring.

Bull Hitch (End)

Bull Hitch (End)

Securely attach a rope to a spar, post or ring.

Buntline Hitch

Secure and compact hitch.

Capuchin

Provide weight to a rope end for throwing over distance.

Carrick Bend

Securely join large, stiff rope or cable.

Cleat Hitch

Secure a rope to a cleat on a dock or boat.

Clove Hitch

Secure a rope to a post or spar.

Clove Hitch on a Bight

Clove Hitch on a Bight

Attach a rope to a post without access to ends.

Cowboy Bowline

Fixed loop Bowline variant with outward facing tail.

Double Dragon

Strong, fixed, end-of-rope loop that is quick and easy to tie.

Double Overhand Knot

Double Overhand Knot

Reliable, bulky stopper knot at the end of a rope.

Double Sheet Bend

Double Sheet Bend

Securely join two ropes of different diameters or materials.

Figure Eight

Simple stopper knot preventing rope from slipping through belay device or hole.

Flemish Flake

Rope coil in a flat spiral for neat, temporary storage on docks.

Gasket Coil

Neatly store rope or cords, preventing tangles for easy handling.

Ground-line Hitch

Ground-line Hitch

Securely attach a rope to a spar, stanchion or larger rope.

Halyard Hitch

Securely attach a rope to a shackle or ring for hoisting.

Heaving Line Knot

Heaving Line Knot

Provide weight to a rope end for throwing over distance.

Highwayman's Hitch

Highwayman's Hitch

Quick-release knot for temporarily securing a boat or animal to a rail.

Icicle Hitch

Slide and grip knot for securely attaching rope to smooth or tapered objects.

Jury Mast Knot

Decorative three-loop knot, basis for a mat.

Lighterman's Hitch

Lighterman's Hitch

Quick, temporary means of mooring a small watercraft to a bollard.

Marlinspike Hitch

Marlinspike Hitch

A secure temporary hitch employing a quick-release toggle.

Midshipman's Hitch

Midshipman's Hitch

Adjustable friction hitch for use on lines under tension.

Mooring Hitch

Quick-release knot for temporarily mooring a boat or securing an animal to a post.

Multiple Overhand Knot

Multiple Overhand Knot

Stopper knot with extra turns for added bulk or for decoration.

Pedigree Cow Hitch

Pedigree Cow Hitch

More secure variant of the Cow Hitch.

Pile Hitch

Quick way to secure a boat to a dock post.

Racking Bend

join two ropes of different diameter.

Rolling Hitch

Simple friction hitch used for lengthwise pull along an object.

Round Turn & Two Half Hitches

Round Turn & Two Half Hitches

Secure knot for tying a rope to a post or ring.

Running Bowline

Running Bowline

Noose for securing or retrieving objects in sailing and tree-work.

Sailor's Coil

Neatly coil and secure rope for storage.

Scaffold Knot

Secure knot for binding a rope to carabiners or shackles.

Sheet Bend

Securely join ropes of different or similar size.

Slipped Buntline Hitch

Slipped Buntline Hitch

Secure and compact hitch with quick release.

Slipped Clove Hitch

Slipped Clove Hitch

Quick release, temporary attachment.

Snap Bowline

Quick to tie, Relatively secure fixed loop.

Snuggle Hitch

A secure hitch under variable tension, for use with natural or synthetic ropes.

Square Knot

Simple binding knot for securing objects, not suitable for joining two ropes.

Stevedore's Knot

Stevedore's Knot

A medium size stopper knot used to prevent a rope from slipping through a pulley.

Water Bowline

Secure Bowline variant for use in wet conditions without jamming.

Verify tying technique with a skilled instructor where knot failure could cause property damage, injury, or death.