Lots of Knots

When the days grow short and cold we need to find indoor activities. One of our members, Dick Bedell, is a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. All sailors need a good set of knot skills so Dick led us through a few hours of knot skill development.

Knots

Dick Bedell offered to run an activity that included common knots used by sailors, and boating people in general. We gathered at my place and there were six members present.

The day started with every one practicing how to tie a bowline: There were three versions: a bowline to make a reliable loop at the end of a piece of rope, a bowline that runs through a ring on the bow, (an essential knot used to tie to a boat before you launch it from a trailer so you don’t lose it) and a bowline that is prepared for when you want a secure loop around a piling, if docking at a wharf.

There was some explanation of protecting the end of a 3 strand rope, by splicing a back splice, and Katja completed a good one.

Then Dick showed us a small replica rope / cord making machine that twisted 3 strands, each of 4 thin threads, into a 3 strand cord. Unfortunately, for some reason, the cord making was a bit unreliable.

Then we moved on to the main part of the day. Each of us started with a piece of linen cord, about 110 cm long, and following Dick’s directions, we tried to tie a bosun’s lanyard knot. Everyone was concentrating hard to follow the directions, and several attempts were needed to get it completed, and neatly tightened.

Then we went on to make a double bosun’s lanyard knot, and that took even more concentration and assistance from Dick to get it right. Finally everyone had finished what could be used as a key fob, or other decorative piece.

After all those efforts, we needed tea and cake for refreshment

Bosun lanyard Bosun lanyard knots david concentrating David ties a bowline Learning from the tutor Jim concentrating Katja nails it