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Welcome fellow boater to the Potomac River Boating Community! You have found the most comprehensive site supporting boaters around the Potomac River region stay in touch, schedule events, and meet new people. We focus on the Anacostia, Occoquan, Saint Mary's, Tobacco, Patuxent, Potomac, and Rappahannock Rivers as well as the surrounding creeks, tributaries, communities, and the Chesapeake Bay.
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Boating Knots
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Two Half Hitches This reliable knot is quickly tied and is the hitch most often used in mooring. To tie: 1. Pass the end of a rope around a post or other object. 2. Wrap the short end of rope under and over the long part of rope, pushing the end down through the loop. This is a half hitch. 3. Repeat on the long rope, below first half hitch, and draw tight. |
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Bowline This knot does not jam or slip when tied properly. To tie: 1. Make the overhand loop with the end held toward you, then pass the end through the loop. 2. Now, pass the end up behind the standing part, then down through the loop again. 3. Draw tight. |
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Figure Eight This knot is ideal for keeping the end of a rope from running out of a tackle or pulley. To tie: 1. Make an underhand loop, bringing the end around and over the standing part. 2. Pass the rope end under, then up through the loop. 3. Draw tight. |
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Square Knot This knot is used at sea for reefing and furling sails. To tie: 1. Pass the left end of the rope over and under the right end. 2. Curve what is now the left end toward the right, and cross what is now the right end over and under the left. 3. Draw tight. |
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Anchor Bend This knot is used to secure a rope or a line to an anchor. To tie: 1. Pass two loops through a ring 2. Place the free end around a standing line 3. Pass the free end through loops 4. Complete by making a half hitch. |
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Clove Hitch This knot is a general utility hitch for when you need a quick, simple method of fastening a rope around a post, spar or stake. To tie: 1. Make a turn with the rope around the object and over itself. 2. Take a second turn with the rope around the object. 3. Pull the end up under the second turn so it is between the rope and the object; tighten by pulling on both ends. |
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The Bowline Knot The yachtsman favourite. The Bowline is best for forming a loop or eye, it doesn't jam and it's easy to undo if not under load. Some people find the bowline easier learn by saying "the rabbit comes out of its hole, round the tree and back down the hole again". |
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The Double Loop Bowline Here is another way to tie a bowline in a doubled rope. This knot was generally used at sea for lowering an injured man from aloft, by putting one leg is put through each loop. |
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The Angler's Loop This knot is also known as the Englishman's and Fisherman's loop. |
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The Anglers Knot Also called the Water Knot, Waterman's, Fisherman's, English-mans and True-Lovers. It's very strong and one the commonest of bends employed by anglers. |
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The Sailor's Knot Also called The Anchor Bend, Carrick Bend and Full Carrick Bend. It's easy to tie, does not slip easily in the wet, and is among the strongest of knots - it can't jam and is readily untied. |
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Figure of Eight Stopper Stopper knot - saves the rope escaping.  |
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The Clove Hitch Knot Although not a very secure hitch, but it's quick to tie and easy to adjust - ideal for securing fenders and the like. |
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The Clove Hitch Knot - loop method Another way to tie a clove hitch. |
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The Rolling Hitch This is like a clove hitch with another turn. Ideal for taking the strain off another rope - a useful knot aboard ship. |
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Sheet Bend Knot Other titles include, The Bend, Simple Bend, Ordinary Bend and Common Bend. It's a quick way of jointing two ropes. The Double Sheet Bend on the right, is no stronger than the single, but is more secure. |
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The Sheepshank Knot This Knot can be used to shorten a length of rope. It can also be used to strengthen a chafed section of rope. |
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The Cleat To make fast, take a turn around the cleat and the make several 'figure of eight' turns to build up some friction. Finish off with a 'twisted' loop or hitch to look it off. |
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The Reef Knot Probably one of the most popular and best known knots. Typical uses: tying the ends of a rope around an object, eg. a parcel, bandage, or the neck of a sack. |
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The Anchor Hitch or Fishermans's Bend This knot is related to the round turn & two half hitches, but is more secure. Typical use: attaching a rope to a ring, eg. on an anchor. |
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The Sailor's Short Splice An ideal way of jointing ropes. |
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The Sailor's Eye Splice Form the eye and spread the strands away from you fanwise, placing them against the rope where it is to be entered. Untwist the rope one turn, open the top or center bight with a small fid, and stick the center strand under the next bight to the left in the same direction and lastly stick the right strand, from right to left, under the remaining bight. After this, tuck all stands once more, over one and under one. Trim the ends at a length equal to one diameter of rope. |
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