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Teaching your wife Knots

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/22/2012 : 05:41:58

The British Royal Navy taught me a reef of knots when I was 15 years old, I had an advantage of being in the Sea Cadets for a year as a kid. So tying knots is something that comes pretty easy for me.
We were taught to understand what a particular knot was for ie. When would you use it. And that all knots had to be easy to untie and look good. Our instructor would say "Ok, that looks good, now untie it"

We also had to be able to tie the knot in the dark, pitch black, because "that happens at sea".

Now Peggy & I are preparing for our basic keel boat sailing course, and she needs to learn some basic knots.

Any suggestions on the best way to get past this challenge?

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 06:41:28

Paul - try this site:-

/www.animatedknots.com/index.php

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 06:45:38

Thanks Derek, that is a great site, seen it before. I'll point Peggy that way too.

Paul

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 06:51:48

Although I'm not well versed in the knot tying realm I do love knots and how they apply to different situations. The best I can do is point you to a site that uses animation to help you comprehend how knots are tied.

[url="http://www.animatedknots.com/indexboating.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com"]animated knots[/url]

[url="http://www.apparent-wind.com/knots/"]some useful knots[/url]

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putzmeister
Navigator

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100 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 09:47:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 

Any suggestions on the best way to get past this challenge?

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Practice, practice, practice - then practice some more.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 13:12:57

I've tried teaching Rita to tie some knots, and she'll show some interest for a while, but generally not for long. I concentrate on just getting her able to tie a bowline, even with her eyes closed. I figure if she can tie a bowline, she has a nice secure knot she can use in lots and lots of situations. It might not be the best knot for the purpose, but it's better than tying a pile of overhand knots on something and hoping for the best. We keep a couple of 6-8' lengths of different colored 3/8ths soft laid braid (red & blue) close to the couch and we'll occasionally practice. Like I said, she has little interest and depends on me to do anything requiring knots. The only knots I'd say she's really good at is tying off to a cleat and sewing when you attach a needle to thread. I'd bet if I asked her this afternoon to tie a bowline, she'd need a refresher.

The USN required that you learn the "knot of the day" during bootcamp. It had to be properly tied on the foot of your rack before you left for the day so that when the barracks were inspected they could look at all of the knots. The irony was, only two people in the company tied all the knots for the rest of the company. Me, for the upper deck of racks on the second floor of the building, and our company master at arms for the lower deck. He & I would confer before tying whatever the knot of the day was, so we'd make sure to tie them the right way and the same way, then we'd go off and tie the 40 knots our respective decks required.

I probably only regularly use about 5-6 knots but I know or or are aware of quite a few more. My parents bought me the Ashley Book Of Knots when I was a teenager, and I've probably tied over 100 knots out of that book alone (I have lots more books on knots).
Here are my can't do without knots:
Constrictor (can tie this both in the bight and around an object, with my eyes closed)
Bowline (eyes closed, behind my back (challenge from our Chief Bosun, he could do it one handed in about 2 seconds, still not really sure how he did it, even watching from behind)
Reef (all around basic knot, really only use it now for reefing my main, most other chores I used to use it for now use a constrictor knot)
Figure 8 (one handed, behind my back, in the dark, anywhere, anytime, go-to knot when rock climbing, had to be able to tie it one handed in any situation, same with a Prussic knot)
Ring or cow hitch

Up and coming:
Alpine butterfly. New to me, but I like it's simplicity and strength, and ease of tying, still can't do it automatically like the ones above, I have to think about it each time.

Ones I rarely tie, but enjoy:
Splicing, both three strand and braided. Splicing hard laid three strand is a pain! Had a recent experience with leaded crabbing line, wow, what a pain!
Monkeyfist. I can tie these in a matter of minutes without instruction. I've probably made dozens and dozens of these for pulls, decorative bits, got one on SL for a heaving line, made a really elaborate one for my dad's best friend's garage door pull. Wish I'd have gotten that one back, he's long since gone, and the folks who bought his house probably have no idea where the really nice pull came from.
Turks heads. These just appeal to me.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 17:09:23

From what we have read, the Basic Keel Boat course exam requires that the student can tie the following knots:

Bowline
Clove Hitch
Round Turn and two half hitches
Sheetbend
Figure of 8
Cleat hitch.

So far Peggy has the figure of 8 down. Working on the bowline.

I have been trying to figure out how to make knot tying fun!

Paul

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 19:09:29

Very simple:

Get out of the way!

Really.

Like trying to teach family members to drive or sail, let someone else do it.

You'll BOTH live longer.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 04:05:28

Buy her a book on Macramee - remember those owl planters back in the 80's?? Well all macrame was, was knot tying for women.

http://www.free-macrame-patterns.com/learn-macrame.html

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 09:32:16

How hard can this be.. tell her you will do the dishes, vacuum, fold the laundry, and take out the trash for every new knot she learns..

That'll make it fun for her.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 18:42:09

Ray, if I tell her that what will I do in my spare time?

I was thinking of other ways we could make it fun

Paul

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2012 : 11:20:03

Every spring we joke about my wife Re_Learning knots,nautical terminology etc.. By this time of the year shes got it..
But I agree with Stu! keep that marriage HAPPY!

Edited by - on

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2012 : 13:14:33

I made a small cleat out of wood and mounted it to a foot long piece of 1X4 pine. On the other end I mounted a piece of broom handle to simulate a piling. Added 2 pieces of cord, and my wife (or anyone else) could practice knot tying in the comfort of our home. Worked for us.

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