Knots

Winch Operation and Cleating

When using a winch and pulling with hands, have two turns around the winch. Before using a winch handle, wrap at least one more turn (for a total of at least three turns) around the winch. Then begin using the winch handle. If someone else is "tailing" the line, be sure that the tail line emerges horizontally from the winch. The the tail is too high, there is a danger that the line can slip off the winch.

To cleat a line, make sure first that the line is wrapped completely around the cleat at least once as shown below.

Then criss-cross as shown below.

Finally, loop over one more time, making sure that loose end goes underneath loop, and lies parallel to previous criss-cross as shown below.

Knots

A Fig. 8 knot is shown below. It is useful as a stopper.

A bowline is shown below. This is considered the most useful knot on a boat.

To fasten a line to something else, two half-hitches can be used, as shown below.

A better variation of this was shown to us by Peter Underwood. Begin, with a single half hitch, as shown below.

Then, wind the second half-hitch around and behind the first as shown below (brown line).

Finally, add another half-hitch (purple line). This variation does not slip at all.

A clove hitch is shown below. This isn't such a great knot as it slips easily unless there is tension on both ends.

A reef (or square) knot is shown below. This is great for tying a bundle.

A rolling hitch is shown below. This is good for tying one line to another (in order to remove a winch override, for example).

For more info on useful knots, refer to Chapman's 62nd edition, pg. 284. Also, the Boy Scouts have information about knots on this site.

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