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Knots & Lashings Guide


Knots

 Stopper Knots

Function of Stopper Knots:
●  To prevent the end of the rope from fraying.
●  To stop the rope from slipping through a hole.
●  To add weight to a particular point of the rope.
●  To provide a handhold.
● To stop the end of a sewing thread from passing through the eye of the needle.
● Tied at intervals on a lifeline as multiple handholds.

Stopper Knots comprises:
1) Thumb Knot
2) Figure-of-EightKnot


  • Stoppers Knots – Thumb Knot

  • ●  Thumb Knot is also known as Overhand knot / Simple knot.
  • ●  Once it is tied and put under strain, it is difficult to untie due to strain acting on
    one point.

  • How to tie a Thumb Knot?
  • ●  Step 1 - Form a loop and pass the end through it.
  • ●  Step 2 - Tighten it to form the Thumb Knot.


  • Stoppers Knots – Figure-of-Eight Knot
  • ●  Figure-of-Eight Knot is also known as Flemish Knot.
  • ●  As compared to thumb knot, when it is tied and under strain, it does not weaken
    the strength of rope as much.
  • ●  It is much easier to be untied as there are more gaps, bends and cutting.
  • How to tie a Figure-of-Eight Knot?
  • ●  Step 1 - Pass the tail over itself to form a loop.
  • ●  Step 2 - Continue under and around the standing end.
  • ●  Step 3 - Complete the knot by passing the tail down through the loop.

  • Thumb Knot VS. Figure-of-Eight Knot

  • Thumb Knot
    Figure-of-Eight Knot
    Rots more easily under harsh sun and
    wet conditions.
    More rot-resistant as it is waterproof and
    absorbs less water.
    Relatively short & the strength of natural fibre ropes is limited.
    Stronger and lighter than natural fibre ropes of the same size.
    Less slippery as compared to synthetic fibre ropes.
    More slippery as compared to natural fibre ropes.



Bends

Function of Bends:
● To join two ropes together

Bends comprises:
1) Reef Knot
2) SheetBend
3) Fisherman’s Knot

  • Bends - Reef Knot

  • ● For joining two ropes of the same thickness together. 
  • ●  Used for parcel tying as well as first-aid bandaging (as it is flat and easy to tie / untie).

  • How to tie a Reef Knot?
  • “Left over Right, Right over Left”.
  • ● Step 1 - Take two ropes and cross them (red over blue)
  • ● Step 2 - Form a half knot.
  • ● Step 3 - Cross them a second time (red over blue again)
  • ● Step 4 - and pull the ends tight to form the Square Knot.

  • Bends - Sheep Bend
  • ●  Joining two ropes of unequal thickness together.
  • ●  To attach a flag to a halyard.

  • How to tie a Sheep Bend?
  • "Use the thicker rope to form the ‘U’, and then use the thinner rope to thread around the thicker rope."
  • ● Step 1: Form a bight in the thicker rope and hold it in one hand.
  • ● Step 2: Pass the thinner rope
  • ● Step 3: through the bight
  • ● Step 4: and behind the thicker tail and standing ends in that order.
  • ● Step 5: Finally, tuck the smaller rope under itself to finish the knot.

  • How to check:
  • ● The working ends of the finished product are on the same side

  • Bends - Fisherman’s Knot
  • ●  Joining slippery ropes or ropes with small and equal diameters.
  • ●  Joining fishing lines.

  • How to tie a Sheep Bend?
  • ● Step 1- Tie a Thumb Knot in A round B.
  • ● Step 2- Tie a Thumb Knot in B round A.
  • ● Step 3 - Pull both ropes to slide the knots together.

  • How to check:
  • ● Made of 2 sliding thumb knots which will lock against each other when strain is applied, lying parallel to each other in an up-down-up-down pattern and the working ends are on the same side.

Loop Knots

Function of Hitches:
● Primarily uses the loop formed in its function.

Loop Knots comprises:
1) Bowline
2) Tent Guy Loop
3) Manharness
4) Fireman’s Chair

 In NPCC, Bowline, Tent Guy Loop, & Manharness are within the knots syllabus as it is required in erecting a tent as well as building flagstaff.

  • Loop Knots - Bowline
  • ●  Used to secure a rope to a ring by forming an non-adjustable loop that does not jam or slip easily under severe strain.
  • ●  To secure twine to the sleeve ring of the tent sheet.

  • How to tie a Bowline?
  • ● Step 1 - Form a small loop leaving enough rope for the desired loop size..
  • ● Step 2 - Pass the working end of the rope through the loop as though making an
  • overhand knot
  • ● Step 3 - Continue around the standing end.
  • ● Step 4 - Pass the end back through the small loop.

  • How to check:
  • ● The working end (when tying) should lie within the bight.

  • Loop Knots - Tent Guy Loop

  • ●  To create an adjustable loop to act as a pulley mechanism in the tightening of guylines.
  • ●  Tying of guylines for tent pitching and flagstaff.
  • How to tie a Tent Guy Loop?
  • ● Tie a slipknot before inserting the working end into it. Thus, this creates an adjustable loop.

  • How to check:
  • ● The slip knot should not adjust/move when the Tent Guy Loop is being tied - when tying the slip knot, ensure that the loop is formed by pulling the working end.

  • Loop Knots - Manharness
  • ●  The loop can act as a handle for hauling of objects. It provides an alternative to tie a loop in the middle of a rope instead of at the end.
  • ●  Halyard loop for flagstaff.

  • How to tie a Manharness?


  • How to check:
  • ● Loop in between 2 parallel lines.

Shortening Formations

Shortening Formations’ function:
● To shorten ropes without cutting them.

Shortening Formations comprises:
1) Sheepshank
2) ChainKnot

  • Shortening Formations - Sheepshank

  • ● Shortens ropes without cutting them; also used to bypass worn sections of rope.
  • ● Used in nautical and maritime operations when ropes are very costly or when cutting is not applicable (e.g.: a rope tied to the shore or ships).

  • How to tie a Sheepshank?
  • ● Step 1 - Fold the rope to approximately the desired new length.
  • ● Step 2 - Form a Half Hitch in one standing end,
  • ● Step 3 - Drop it over the adjacent bight, and tighten it.
  • ● Step 4 - Form a Half Hitch in the other standing end,
  • ● Step 5 - Drop it over its adjacent bight,
  • ● Step 6 - Then tighten it too. Apply the load carefully.

  • How to check:
  • ● 3 parallel lines in the middle of the knot and 2 half hitches with both ends of the rope on opposite sides of the knot.

  • Shortening Formations - Chain Knot

  • ● Shorten ropes, especially those of small diameters; can be undone quickly by a pull. 
  • ● Male cadets shorten their bootlaces using this knot.

  • How to tie a Chain Knot?
  • "Ensure that the slip knot is tied by grabbing the working end instead of the standing end. End the chain knot by entering the remaining part of the working end into the last loop formed."

  • How to check:
  • ● 3 parallel lines in the middle of the knot and 2 half hitches with both ends of the rope on opposite sides of the knot.
Hitches

Function of Hitches:
● To attach a rope to a spar, pole or ring

Hitches comprises:
1) Clove Hitch
2) Rolling Hitch
3) Round Turn & Two Half Hitches
4) Timber Hitch
5) Highwayman’s Hitch
6) Marlinspike Hitch

 In NPCC, Clove Hitch, Timber Hitch, Highwayman’s Hitch & Marlinspike Hitch are within the knots syllabus.
  • Hitches - Clove Hitch
  • ● Used to tie a rope to an object e.g. spar or ring.
  • ● Works best when working end is pulled tangentially to the knot.
  • ● Used to start & anchor rope obstacles.
  • ● Commonly used to start off lashings.

  • How to tie a Clove Hitch?
  • ● Threading Method
  • ● 2 Loops Method
  • ● Step 1 - Pass the end of the rope (working end) around a pole.
  • ● Step 2 - Continue over the standing end.
  • ● Step 3 - Pass the working end around the pole a second time.
  • ● Step 4 - Thread the end under itself.
  • ● Step 5 - Pull tight to form the Clove Hitch.

  • How to check:
  • ● 2 parallel lines at the back & 1 cut.

  • Hitches - Timber Hitch
  • ● Used to attach a rope to a cylindrical object.
  • ● Works best when pulled in a perpendicular direction.
  • ● Often used for logging purposes.
  • ● Used to start a diagonal lashing in NPCC.

  • How to tie a Timber Hitch?
  • ● Step 1 - Pass the end of the rope (working end) around a pole then end around the standing end.
  • ● Step 2 - Wrap the working end around itself three times.
  • ● Step 3 - Tighten the knot so that the three turns are gripped against the pole.


  • How to check:
  • ● Ensure that loop is formed around standing end & twist the rope around the working end itself.

  • Hitches - Highwayman’s Hitch
  • ● Used in the situation which requires a quick release of rope.

  • How to tie a Highwayman’s Hitch?
  • "When tying a Highwayman’s Hitch, the first end pulled will be the tightening end & the second end pulled will be the quick release end."
  • ● Step 1 - Hold an initial bight of the rope against a pole.
  • ● Step 2 - Place a second bight behind the pole & around the initial bight.
  • ● Step 3 - Pass a bight of the tail in front of the pole & through the first bight.
  • ● Step 4 - Tighten to secure the knot & take the load.

  • How to check:
  • ● 2 parallel lines will be seen from the back.
  • ● It can be quickly released with a pull.
  • ● One end of the rope is used for tightening while the other end is meant for
  • loosening.


  • Hitches - Marlinspike Hitch
  • ● Used to attach a rope to a rod to form a handle.
  • ● Used in nautical activities & tying of rope ladders, handles etc.

  • How to tie a Marlinspike Hitch?
  • ● Slip Knot, Thumb Knot (Threading Method)
  • ● Note: If the working end is loaded rather than the standing end, the knot will capsize into an overhand noose.
  • ● Step 1 - Make a loop & through it.
  • ● Step 2 - Tuck a bight of the standing end.
  • ● Step 3 - Place the loop over a pole & tighten it.

  • How to check:
  • ● Loop in between 2 parallel lines.




Lashings


Basics of Lashings

● Make sure that all the turns are tightened as you go
● Ensure there is no unnecessary overlapping in the turns
● Ensure minimal gaps in the lashings
● Ensure sufficient rounds and fraps are made (Fraps binds the rounds together, adding more security to the lashing)

● Keep the lashings neat by tucking in the ends of hitches
  • Lashings - Round Lashing
  • ● Round lashing will not be secured enough if too many spars or spars with poor orientation are tied together.
  • ● The lashing can be secured by driving an object like a small wooden peg or excess ropes into the gap between the poles and the ropes (Wedging).
  • ● Round lashing is used to bind 2 even spars together. It is commonly used in binding the two spars together in Flagstaff.

  • How to tie a Round Lashing?
  • ● Step 1 -Start with a Clove Hitch around both poles.
  • ● Step 2 - Wrap six or eight turns around the two poles.
  • ● Step 3 - Finish with another Clove Hitch.



  • Lashings - Shear Lashing
  • ● Shear lashing is used to join 2 uneven spars together, thus frapping is essential in this lashing.
  • ● It can also be used to construct shear legs for raising structures up when the spars are opened up. This is also used as part of the ‘A’ frames used in pioneering projects as well.

  • How to tie a Shear Lashing?
  • ● Step 1 - Tie a clove hitch around one pole.
  • ● Step 2 - Wrap both poles with a simple lashing.
  • ● Step 3 - Wrap the lashing with at two or three tight frapping turns.
  • ● Step 4 - Tie off the end with a clove hitch.


  • Lashings - Square Lashing
  • ● Square lashing is used to tie two poles together, right angles apart from each other.

  • How to tie a Square Lashing?
  • ● Step 1 - Start with a Clove Hitch around one pole.
  • ● Step 2 - Go over and under each pole about three or four turns.
  • ● Step 3 - Tighten the lashing by surrounding it with three or four frapping turns.
  • ● Step 4 - Finish with two or three tight half hitches.


  • Lashings - Diagonal Lashing
  • ● Diagonal lashing is used to tie poles together at angles other than right angle.

  • How to tie a Diagonal Lashing?
  • ● Step 1 - Start with a single Timber Hitch around both poles.
  • ● Step 2 - Wrap three or four turns around the two poles in one axis
  • ● Step 3 - Followed by three or four turns in the other axis.
  • ● Step 4 - Tighten the lashing by surrounding it with three or four frapping turns.
  • ● Step 5 - Finish with a Clove Hitch.


  • Lashings - Gyn Lashing
  • ● Gyn lashing is used to bind 3 or more poles together. It can also be used to create stands.

  • How to tie a Gyn Lashing?
  • ● Step 1 - Start with a Clove Hitch around one pole.
  • ● Step 2 - Wrap about six racking turns around the three poles weaving in & out
  • between them.
  • ● Step 3 - Make two or three tight frapping turns in the two gaps.
  • ● Step 4 - Finish with a Clove Hitch. Cross the two outside poles to form the tripod.

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