Here are some must-know knots for any of your Scouting adventures!
This easy knot can be used to tie a horse to a post. It’s also the knot used to start and finish most lashings. The knot is tied with two loops of rope stacked on top of one another so that they interlock and hold firm. This is one of the quickest knots to learn.
The basic square knot, or “joining” knot, is the first knot many scouts learn on the night they join a Scout troop. Take it a step further by adding an overhand knot to each end of the original square knot and you’ll have an even stronger, fortified knot!
Why: The fortified square knot is less likely to slip out of place, making it ideal for objects you’d want tied securely like bandages or boat sails.
1) Right over left and under, left over right and under, then pull.
2) The fortified square knot strengthens the basic knot by adding an overhand knot to each end, which makes it less likely to slip.
The Clove Hitch knot is one of the easiest knots to learn. Find a post strong enough to hold whatever you want to secure and wrap your rope around the post. Cross the line, wrap the leading end of the line around the post again and then tuck the end of the line under itself below the cross.
Why: The Clove Hitch is useful for the start and finish of most lashings, or any other time you want to tether an object to a post.
his loop knot is popular among climbers and sailors. It’s a secure knot that will not slip or loosen. In a rescue, a bowline can be tied around a person’s waist so he can be hoisted to safety.The bowline is often taught using the story of the rabbit and the hunter.
To shorten a long line of rope use the deceptively simple chain sinnet. When you need the full length of line, a quick tug frees the entire rope without any kinks or knots.
This useful knot ties two ropes of equal diameter securely together. It’s secure enough to be used in rappelling—but can be difficult to untie.