USE THE RIGHT KNOT

Unlike our sailing cousins, as a motorboater we don’t need to know dozens of different knots. However, there are four essential knots that you really do need to know how to tie and when to use: a bowline, a clove hitch, a round turn and two half hitches, and a sheet bend.

All four-need practice and regular use to ensure it becomes second nature, as like every skill it fades with time and lack of use.

THE BOWLINE

The traditional boy scout knot, its greatest asset is that once tied and pulled tight it creates a secure loop that can be passed through cleats or tied round items such as riser rails or rings. As long as there’s tension on the line, it will remain secure. I use it regularly to pass through the centre of cleats and then loop up and over the ears to give a really secure and almost chafe-free attachment. However, you do need to be careful as its greatest asset (its security under tension) is also its greatest issue as you cannot untie it with any load on the line, so never use it unless you can free the other end of the line to release the tension.

CLOVE HITCH

A very simple knot that allows you to quickly fasten a line around something, such as a guard wire or rail. It’s great for tying on fenders and is easy to adjust simply by releasing some tension on the crossover and shortening or lengthening the lines. The danger is that if that tension comes off the line, for example when the fenders touch the water, then it can self -release. To make it more secure you can make extra turns before passing the line through itself or pass a half hitch over the end with the load on to stop it loosening.

ROUND TURN & TWO HALF HITCHES