Knots That Will Increase Your Chance For Survival

 To be, or KNOT to be

Learning how to properly tie knots can be an extremely important skill to have no matter what it is you are doing. There are numerous types of knots and each having numerous purposes, but generally each knot has a very specific use. In a survival situation, knowing how to tie a specific knot to accomplish a specific purpose can mean the difference between life and death. Cordage can be improvised from various sources in the wilderness such as using long thick blades of some grasses or vines can be braided or woven into simple cordage for making shelters, baskets, and even rope strong enough to help you climb to safety. You may be thinking that this stuff is just some Boy Scout skill and is not that important, but when you are in a situation where you have to improvise some form of cordage to help you descend a 10-20 foot drop with no other way down or around the obstacle in order to gain access to fresh water or reaching safety and rescue, then you will realize just how important it is to know what knot to tie that will be strong enough to hold your weight safely. 

  The information below can also be used not only in a survival situation but in every day tasks. If you are a fisherman or enjoy boating in general I think you will find this very helpful, especially if you are at a beginner level and just starting out. One of my philosophies concerning survival is "it is better to have and know the information and not need it, then to need it and not know or have it". I not only apply this just in this reference, but to every aspect of my life as well. So, I hope that you find this information helpful and informative

Here are a few examples of useful knots to know:

Halyard knot: interlacing of ropes used to attach the halyard to a sail.

Reef knot: interlacing of ropes made of two half-knots inverse to each other.

Bowline: interlacing of ropes with a loop that can be used as support.

Two round turns and a half-hitch: interlacing of ropes around an object by making two turns, then a half-knot.

Two half-hitches: interlacing of ropes around an object by making two half-knots, one after the other.

Double shell bend: double interlacing of ropes, used to attach two ropes together.

Sheet knot: interlacing of ropes used to attach two ropes together.

Figure of eight knot: interlacing of ropes used to finish the end of a rope.

Overhand knot: simple interlacing of a rope.

The following is a list of knot terminology and definitions:

Bend-

A bend is a knot used to join two lengths of rope.

Bight-

A bight has two meanings in knotting. It can mean either any central part of a rope (between the standing end and the working end) or an arc in a rope that is at least as wide as a semicircle. In either case, a bight is a length of rope that does not cross itself. Knots that can be tied without use of the working end are called knots on the bight.

Binding Knot-

Binding knots are knots that either constrict a single object or hold two objects snugly together. Whippings, seizing and lashings serve a similar purpose to binding knots, but contain too many wraps to be properly called a knot. In binding knots, the ends of rope are either joined together or tucked under the turns of the knot.

Capsizing-

A knot that has capsized has deformed into a different structure. Although capsizing is sometimes the result of incorrect tying or misuse, it can also be done purposefully in certain cases to strengthen the knot.

Chirality-

Chirality is the 'handedness' of a knot. Topologically speaking, a knot and its mirror image may or may not have knot equivalence.

Dressing-

Knot dressing is the process of arranging a knot in such a way as to improve its performance. Crossing or uncrossing the rope in a specific way, depending on the knot, can increase the knot's strength as well as reduce its jamming potential.

Elbow-

An elbow refers to any two nearby crossings of a rope. An elbow is created when an additional twist is made in a loop.

Flake-

A flake refers to any number of turns in a coiled rope. Likewise, to flake a rope means to coil it.

Fraps-

Fraps are a set of loops coiled perpendicularly around the wraps of a lashing as a means of tightening.

Friction Hitch-

A friction hitch is a knot that attaches one rope to another in a way that allows the knot's position to easily be adjusted. Sometimes friction hitches are called slide-and-grip knots. They are often used in climbing applications.

Hitch-

A hitch is a knot that attaches a rope to some object, often a ring, rail, spar, or post.

Jamming-

A jamming knot is any knot that becomes very difficult to untie after use. Knots that are resistant jamming are called non-jamming knots.

Lashing-

A lashing is an arrangement of rope used to secure two or more items together in a rigid manner. Common uses include the joining scaffolding poles and the securing of sailing masts. The square lashing, diagonal lashing, and shear lashing are well-known lashings used to bind poles perpendicularly, diagonally, and in parallel, respectively.

Loop-

A loop is one of the fundamental structures used to tie knots. It is a full circle formed by passing the working end of a rope over itself. When the legs of a closed loop are crossed to form a loop, the rope has taken a turn.

Noose-

A noose can refer to any sliding loop in which the loop tightens when pulled.

Seizing-

A seizing is a knot that binds two pieces of rope together side by side, normally in order to create a loop. The structure of a seizing knot is similar to that of lashings.

Setting-

Setting a knot is the process of tightening it. Improper setting can cause certain knots to underperform.

Splice-

Splicing is a method of joining two ropes done by untwisting and then re-weaving the rope's strands.

Standing End-

The standing end (or standing part) of a rope is the part not active in knot tying. It is the part opposite of the working end.

Stopper Knot-

A stopper knot is the type of knot tied to prevent a rope slipping through a grommet. The overhand knot is the simplest single-strand stopper knot.

Whipping-

A whipping is a binding knot tied around the end of a rope to prevent the rope from unraveling.

Working End-

The working end (or working part) of a rope is the part active in knot tying. It is the part opposite of the standing end.

For more detailed information about the different types of knots, their uses, along with simple step by step tutorials, you can visit the following links. I have broken the knots down by their uses in order to help you find what you are looking for and make it much easier for you. The illustrations are also included so you can get a general idea of what these knots look like. The Grog's website has the best illustrations and information I have yet to find online, so I am including them and their links.

Knots used by Search and Rescue:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexrescue.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Scouting Knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexscouting.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Common Fishing Knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Illustrations and information for simple knots used for fishing:

http://www.nybass.com/knots.htm

Common Climbing Knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexclimbing.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Common Boating Knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexboating.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Great interactive knot tying instruction: By clicking on the picture of any knot you wish to learn, the illustrations take you step by step on how to tie the knot:

http://www.tollesburysc.co.uk/Knots/Knots_gallery.htm

More information and uses about different types of knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexbasics.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Knot tying instructions and purposes in PDF format:  
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs315082.pdf