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You can sail through life just by knowing how to tie these five knots!
Master these five knots. In most cases, they’re the only ones you’ll ever need. By Travis Larson
BOWLINE
Use this knot to tie super-strong loops that can be easily untied. The bowline knot makes a secure loop at the end of a rope. And it has many uses; for example, you can use these knots to fasten a mooring line to a ring or a post.
FIGURE 8
A figure 8 is ideal when you need a stop knot in a rope. It could be for a series of knots in a climbing rope or at the end of a rope to serve as a hand grip. Sailors use it to keep lines from falling through pulleys on a sailboat.
SHEET BEND
These knots are recommended for joining two ropes of unequal diameters. The thicker rope should be the one with the simple loop at the end. It also works for similar-size ropes.
SQUARE KNOT
The square knot is used when you need to join two similar-size ropes together. It’s the easiest way to lengthen a rope. It’s also the go-to knot for securing parcels and rolled-up items such as tarps.
DOUBLE HALF HITCHES
Half hitches are for tying boats to piers, tent lines to stakes, and for many other uses.
To watch Travis tie these knots, search for “5 knots to know” at familyhandyman.com