The USPS suggests that a good knot is one that can be
easily tied and easily untied. This page is devoted to the few knots
which sailors have an occasion to use the most.
Cleat
Hitch
To tie it, loop completely around the cleat underneath then
form a figure 8 over the
cleat. Finish by tucking the bitter end under the last loop. The bitter
end is the one in
the lower right corner. Many sailors tie the cleat hitch with only one
loop. Successive
tugs and relaxes on the standing end, the end connected to the load,
could cause the hitch
to slip. Secondly, since two loops are used it is much easier to untie.
Bowline
Knot (pronounced "bow-lin")
This knot is useful to permanently secure your boat's line to
a pier. First form a loop,
bring the bitter end, the free end, up through the loop, around the
standing end, the one
attached to the load, and back down through the loop. Below is a
completed bowlin knot
Sheet
Bend
The Sheet Bend knot is used to join two lines of different
sizes. With the larger
line, form a loop. Bring the smaller line up through the loop, around
behind the larger
line, and under itself. Pull tight.
