Additional Useful Knots and Hitches
The sheet bend joins two ropes of different diameter — the thicker rope forms a bight and the thinner rope passes through it. Use a double sheet bend for extra security. The clove hitch is quick to tie and useful for temporarily attaching fender lanyards to a guardrail, though it can slip under intermittent load.
The rolling hitch is essential for taking the load off another rope under tension — for instance, if a sheet is jammed on a winch, tie a rolling hitch to the loaded sheet with a separate line, take the strain on the new line, then free the jammed sheet. The anchor bend (fisherman's bend) is specifically designed for securing an anchor warp to the anchor ring — it tightens under load and won't shake loose.
Key Points
- Sheet bend — joining two ropes of different diameter
- Clove hitch — quick temporary attachment (e.g., fender lanyards)
- Rolling hitch — takes load off a jammed rope under tension
- Anchor bend — securing anchor warp to the anchor ring
- Double sheet bend — extra security for slippery or different-sized ropes