On the bowling or sheet bend, I find that teaching these knots, where confusion (and subsequent frustration) comes in, is that it is rarely if ever stated "the rabbit comes out of the whole... and goes DOWN around the tree !" 20 minutes after initial introduction to tying the knot and the student is saying 'the rabbit comes out of the hole and around the tree...." FULL STOP ! This is where the beginner can go arey. They (the beginners that tie an improper bowling/ sheet bend) go around the tree the wrong way. They instead of going DOWN around the tree, instead go UP OVER and around the tree. My teaching experience is that term term / use of rabbit metaphor must be emphasized " the rabbit comes out of the hole and goes DOWN around the tree !" ;)
We are so glad to hear this. We generate new videos weekly. Please keep your eyes out for them. Oh yea...we just started producing sailing related youtube shorts.
Even before the 'rabbit' business, forming the loop for a bowling is critical. Beginners trying the knot after a brief recess from attempts will start doing it the opposite way and creating a failed attempt at a proper bowling. I like to teach it with two important tips added: 1. Teach the proper 1/4 turn twist of the rope that (even blindfolded) will result in the proper loop configuration 2. I use the apology of a highway on ramp. "You are on a county road and want to get on the interstate. So you get on the ramp which takes you from a surface road to an elevated interstate. You have to use the ramp (create the loop) that takes you UP ONTO the highway ! Keeping this saying in mind reminds the beginner that the loop must lay over, not under the line when forming the loop. ;)
No. Please. Never use the reef knot (square knot) as a bend (a knot to join 2 ropes). It doesn't matter if the lines are the same thickness. If they have different twist, different stretch, if one's wet, or even if the knot just rubs against something while loaded, it may well spill. We have other, better bends. The double sheet bend works just fine on lines of the same diameter, too. Let's restrict the reef knot to reefing sails and tying shoes. At 10:22 (and 10:55) is not a round turn, as stated. A nice round turn is shown at 11:40.
Hi Kurt .You are correct. We wouldn't use a square knot to carry a load. But, remember, we are giving definitions of the knots for the ASA test. Square knots can be used for many non-loading bearing situations. As for the clove hitch, I say round turn to describe the line going once around the stanchion. I suppose I could have said wrap it around the stanchion once.
You're absolutely right Kurt but the great thing about the square knot is pull on one end and the knot falls apart which is very handy when shaking the reef, sometimes done with one hand on the tiller :-) This knot takes no load as it's just used to bunt the foot. Thanks for your comments. This helps us make better videos fo our students!
Even more important than knot tying and marlinspike seamanship is proper sailing attire. Be sure to have a WHITE Capt’s hat, an ascot and brand new Sperry deck shoes
Very nice! But, remember, a single becket bend or sheet bend is used to connect two "equal" thicknesses of line. A double becket bend is used to connect two "unequal" thicknesses of line.
On the bowline demonstration: in the real world, you are tying the bowline to something in front of you, beyond the hands, not between your body and your hands. I think it would be more valuable to demonstrate the knot with the bitter end leading away from you, toward the thing to be attached. The “rabbit hole” is formed with an overhand clockwise motion, the standing part over the left palm leading back toward you
Why the overly-complicated instruction to tie the reef knot? In the vid, it's right over left, then tuck towards you with the other end (new right). Just go right over left and tuck away from you with the same end. One motion for each step instead of two.
The reef knot/square knot should NEVER be used to join two different lines together if they are going to be under load. This is dangerous! As a binding knot (i.e. for reefing sails) it is very good. Cleat hitch on the mast should first go to horn away from load. Right/left handed is irrelevant.
We use the reef knot to bunt up the foot of the sail. You don't tie it under the boom on the Andrews or J/80's so it never comes under load. A good thing about the reef knot is you pull on one tail and it turns into two half hitches. Easy. I have found it the cleat hitch like the 'hanging' side of the tail to be falling down (gravity) to help it stay cleated. There are times when you have to start wonky to end up this way as the cleats is too small for the line and there's no easy way to install a larger cleat at the required site.
Barrel knot doesn't appear to be properly dressed. It should have the characteristic two parallel strands when viewed from the front; two crossing strands when viewed from the back. Simply stacking the two loops looks like the problem, and explains why it comes undone so easily. Typical way to tie a barrel knot is to fold the rope back, wrap it around itself 2 or three times, then push the bitter end through the wraps. Same result can be had using the method here by forming the two loops, but push the first loop through the second before passing the end through both. Or slip the second back over the first as you're tightening the knot. The problem's more obvious if you use 3 wraps/loops instead of two. Using the wrap method, you get a nice barrel shape; using the stacked loops method, you get a mess.
Most experienced sailors do not use stopper knots. If you get knocked down in a blow, you might want your Genoa sheet or your spin sheet to run free thru the blocks.
I would not agree with "most." I am an experienced sailor with blue water experience. I use stopper knots for jib/genoa sheets as well as my main sheet. Never on spinnaker sheets, though!
Do not use on a spinnaker, however your Genoa sheet should be of sufficient length that by the time it reaches the stopper more than enough wind will have spilled from it, and you will not want to be buggering about trying to recover a flailing sheet! 🤨
Great tutorial, very helpful for the beginner.
On the bowling or sheet bend, I find that teaching these knots, where confusion (and subsequent frustration) comes in, is that it is rarely if ever stated "the rabbit comes out of the whole... and goes DOWN around the tree !" 20 minutes after initial introduction to tying the knot and the student is saying 'the rabbit comes out of the hole and around the tree...." FULL STOP ! This is where the beginner can go arey. They (the beginners that tie an improper bowling/ sheet bend) go around the tree the wrong way. They instead of going DOWN around the tree, instead go UP OVER and around the tree. My teaching experience is that term term / use of rabbit metaphor must be emphasized " the rabbit comes out of the hole and goes DOWN around the tree !" ;)
You are really good at your job!
Sailing Sarpedon here and these were super helpful when we took our 101 and 103 ASA classes.
Thanks! Where did you take your courses?
We are so glad to hear this. We generate new videos weekly. Please keep your eyes out for them. Oh yea...we just started producing sailing related youtube shorts.
@@SpinnakerSailingSF Windward Sailing out of Amelia Island, FL
Thank you for the great playlist of videos. I take my ASA 101 class this weekend in Oceanside, CA.
Awesome! Let us know if you have any questions. Enjoy your classes.⛵
Even before the 'rabbit' business, forming the loop for a bowling is critical. Beginners trying the knot after a brief recess from attempts will start doing it the opposite way and creating a failed attempt at a proper bowling. I like to teach it with two important tips added: 1. Teach the proper 1/4 turn twist of the rope that (even blindfolded) will result in the proper loop configuration 2. I use the apology of a highway on ramp. "You are on a county road and want to get on the interstate. So you get on the ramp which takes you from a surface road to an elevated interstate. You have to use the ramp (create the loop) that takes you UP ONTO the highway ! Keeping this saying in mind reminds the beginner that the loop must lay over, not under the line when forming the loop. ;)
Great explanation, thank you a lot!
Nicely done!
Thanks for stopping by!
Fantastic tutorial
Glad you liked it!
No. Please. Never use the reef knot (square knot) as a bend (a knot to join 2 ropes). It doesn't matter if the lines are the same thickness. If they have different twist, different stretch, if one's wet, or even if the knot just rubs against something while loaded, it may well spill. We have other, better bends.
The double sheet bend works just fine on lines of the same diameter, too.
Let's restrict the reef knot to reefing sails and tying shoes.
At 10:22 (and 10:55) is not a round turn, as stated. A nice round turn is shown at 11:40.
Hi Kurt .You are correct. We wouldn't use a square knot to carry a load. But, remember, we are giving definitions of the knots for the ASA test. Square knots can be used for many non-loading bearing situations. As for the clove hitch, I say round turn to describe the line going once around the stanchion. I suppose I could have said wrap it around the stanchion once.
You're absolutely right Kurt but the great thing about the square knot is pull on one end and the knot falls apart which is very handy when shaking the reef, sometimes done with one hand on the tiller :-) This knot takes no load as it's just used to bunt the foot. Thanks for your comments. This helps us make better videos fo our students!
Even more important than knot tying and marlinspike seamanship is proper sailing attire. Be sure to have a WHITE Capt’s hat, an ascot and brand new Sperry deck shoes
Very nice! But, remember, a single becket bend or sheet bend is used to connect two "equal" thicknesses of line. A double becket bend is used to connect two "unequal" thicknesses of line.
👍
On the bowline demonstration: in the real world, you are tying the bowline to something in front of you, beyond the hands, not between your body and your hands. I think it would be more valuable to demonstrate the knot with the bitter end leading away from you, toward the thing to be attached. The “rabbit hole” is formed with an overhand clockwise motion, the standing part over the left palm leading back toward you
I only have 10,250,800.00 IQD I’m not selling any of it. I can’t hold it all in one hand if it is out of the ziplock bag it is in.
I like the magic tricks at the end!
I'll share this with all the new sailors who don't take the time to learn the basics. No appreciation of the heritage of boating, ha!
Why the overly-complicated instruction to tie the reef knot? In the vid, it's right over left, then tuck towards you with the other end (new right). Just go right over left and tuck away from you with the same end. One motion for each step instead of two.
The reef knot/square knot should NEVER be used to join two different lines together if they are going to be under load. This is dangerous! As a binding knot (i.e. for reefing sails) it is very good. Cleat hitch on the mast should first go to horn away from load. Right/left handed is irrelevant.
We use the reef knot to bunt up the foot of the sail. You don't tie it under the boom on the Andrews or J/80's so it never comes under load. A good thing about the reef knot is you pull on one tail and it turns into two half hitches. Easy. I have found it the cleat hitch like the 'hanging' side of the tail to be falling down (gravity) to help it stay cleated. There are times when you have to start wonky to end up this way as the cleats is too small for the line and there's no easy way to install a larger cleat at the required site.
@@SpinnakerSailingSF Very valid points.
Barrel knot doesn't appear to be properly dressed. It should have the characteristic two parallel strands when viewed from the front; two crossing strands when viewed from the back. Simply stacking the two loops looks like the problem, and explains why it comes undone so easily. Typical way to tie a barrel knot is to fold the rope back, wrap it around itself 2 or three times, then push the bitter end through the wraps. Same result can be had using the method here by forming the two loops, but push the first loop through the second before passing the end through both. Or slip the second back over the first as you're tightening the knot. The problem's more obvious if you use 3 wraps/loops instead of two. Using the wrap method, you get a nice barrel shape; using the stacked loops method, you get a mess.
Why do all American instructional videos feel like they’re talking to a bunch of 5 year olds? 🤔
Most experienced sailors do not use stopper knots. If you get knocked down in a blow, you might want your Genoa sheet or your spin sheet to run free thru the blocks.
These are students and I'd prefer to keep keep my Jib on the boat.
I would not agree with "most." I am an experienced sailor with blue water experience. I use stopper knots for jib/genoa sheets as well as my main sheet. Never on spinnaker sheets, though!
Do not use on a spinnaker, however your Genoa sheet should be of sufficient length that by the time it reaches the stopper more than enough wind will have spilled from it, and you will not want to be buggering about trying to recover a flailing sheet! 🤨