5 Boating Knots You Need to Know

For an experienced skipper or crew member, tying the right boating knot for the task at hand is often a point of pride as well as safety and security. Attaching a new anchor? You’ll want to use an anchor bend, of course. Tying up to a dock? Then a cleat hitch or rolling hitch might be in order.

Beginner sailors and boaters, on the other hand, sometimes seem overwhelmed when it comes to boating knots, and who could blame them? There are dozens if not hundreds of specialized knots used to do everything from making vessels fast to pilings to stowing a coiled rope in a tidy manner so it will be at the ready whenever needed.

While many knots excel at a dedicated function others are versatile enough to be used in a variety of situations. That means you only have to master a few basic ones to get started. Still, like anything else in the boating world, it’s best to putter before you cruise. Following are five essential boating knots all boat owners and crew members should know. Master these and you should be fine in most situations. Add a couple new ones to your repertoire each year, and you’ll soon know enough boating knots to handle any on the water situation.

While directions are provided for each of the boating knots that follow, it’s tough to beat animated illustrations for instruction purposes. For that reason, we provided links to help you see a variety of boating knots that will come in handy along with illustrations.

1. The Cleat Hitch

https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/cleat-hitch

Used to tie boats and PWC to docks, bulkheads and boat lifts via cleats, this knot is quick, easy to tie, and doesn’t slip. For many, it’s the first boating knot to be mastered.

1. Wrap the line completely around the far horn (arm) of the cleat.

2. Pull the line over the near horn and wrap it under the far horn again.

3. Wrap the line under and then over the first horn again to form a figure eight pattern.

4. Form an underhand loop and slip it over the near horn.

5. Pull the free end of the rope tight to firmly secure the knot.

2. Rolling Hitch

https://www.animatedknots.com/rolling-hitch-knot

This easy-to-tie knot is used for fastening a rope to a piling, pole or even a tree.

1. Wrap the tag end of the line fully around a secure piling or pole. The tag end should cross over the standing line.

2. Wrap the tag end of the line fully around the piling or pole a second time, again crossing over the standing line.

3. Make a third wrap around the piling or pole but keep this wrap above the standing line.

4. Slip the tag end of the line under the third wrap and pull tight to secure.

3. Half Hitch

https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/half-hitch

Perhaps the simplest boating knot to tie is a half hitch which is nothing more than an overhand knot. When tied a few times in a row, this knot is great for securing a small boat to a horizontal post, or as a support knot to ensure another knot will not slip. Some boaters simply tie a single half hitch but be aware that this can slip, making the double half hitch a far better knot to choose under most circumstances.

1. Wrap the tag end of the rope around the post and secure with a simple overhand knot (half hitch).

2. Tie a second half hitch alongside the first (the tag line should thread between the line loops).

3. Continue with additional half hitches if desired.

4. Pull the tag end tight to secure.

4. Anchor Hitch

https://www.animatedknots.com/anchor-hitch-knot

The anchor hitch, sometimes called an anchor bend, is used to fasten an anchor to its rope. The tag end after finishing the knot is best secured with seizing but adding a double half hitch will do in a pinch.

1.  Wrap the tag end loosely twice around the anchor shackle being sure to leave enough tag end for finishing the knot.

2. Pass the tag end behind the standing line and then bring it through both loops in front of the standing line.

3. Wrap the tag end around the standing line again, passing it beneath the new loop to form a half hitch.

4. Pull the tag end to tighten the knot securely.

5. Seize the tag end to secure the knot or use a double half hitch knot as temporary reinforcement to ensure the anchor bend does not loosen and pull free.

5. Bowline

https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/bowline

The Bowline is one of the most common boating knots and it forms a loop that will stay in place yet is also easy to untie when needed. Many people tell a story involving a rabbit and a tree to help them remember the steps to tie the knot.

1. Lay the rope in one hand with the other end hanging down.

2. Form a small loop in the line in your hand.

3.  Bring the end hanging down up and run it through the loop from the underside. In the story, this is where the rabbit comes out of its hole.

4.  Take that same line that came out of the loop and wrap it around the other end of the line beyond the loop and then pass it back through the loop. The rabbit goes around the tree and back into its hole.

5. Tighten the knot by pulling on the line that was moving while holding onto the other end beyond the loop.

This article has been republished by permission of Sea Tow

This article has been updated with new details and links on May 25, 2021.