Connecticut Water Trails Program

Knots For Paddlers

Knots Often Used By Paddlers:

• Bowline to tie a loop, example to loop around bar of carry rack.

• Truckers hitch to secure boat to carry rack.

• Two half hitches to back up the truckers hitch.

• Square knot to tie spare paddle or other gear into boat.

• Figure 8 on a Bight to tie painter to end of boat.

Knot Families Emphasized In Rescue Training:

• Figure 8 Family.

• Overhand Family

• Hitch Family

Desirable Characteristics Of A Knot:

• A knot should be as simple to untie as it is to tie.

• It should be simple and allow for easy inspection.

• It should not be able to work itself loose.

• It should consume less of the available working length

• It should not significantly decrease the strength of the rope.

Key Actions In Tying A Knot:

• Dressing the knot to align, straighten, and bundle all the parts.

• Setting the knot to tighten all parts so they touch, grab and cause friction on the other parts.

• Provide back up to the primary knot

Knot Families For Teaching In Progression

• Figure 8 Stopper, 8 on a Bight, Follow Thru/8 bend, Trace/8 loop, Double Eye Figure 8.

• Figure 9 variations of the 8 family

• Overhand Knot, Water Knot, Fisherman Knot, Double Fisherman,

• Girth Hitch, Prussik Hitch, Munter Hitch

• Tensionless Hitch, Clove Hitch, Half Hitch, Slippery Half Hitch, Two Half Hitches.

• Square Knot, Sheet Bend, Bowline, Bowline on a Bight.

• Truckers Hitch, Divers Hitch.

Reference Books:

• Whitewater Rescue Manual. Walbridge & Sundmacher, Ragged Mountain Press, 1995

• Swiftwater Rescue, a Manual for the Rescue Professional, Slim Ray, CFS Press, 1997

• On Rope. Padgett and Smith, National Speleological Society, 1987

• Knots and How to Tie Them. Boy Scouts of America.

Internet References