[Towertalk] Knots

[Bob Harmon]

What's a reef knot ? Couldn't find it on the web page.

73,
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Walker" <va3mw@rogers.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 8:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] Knots


> After 3 Worrell 1000's, lots of Keel boat racing over the past 20 years
(am
> I that old??), etc., I've also NEVER seen a bowline undo, unless it was on
> very inexpensive nylon rope.  A half-hitch on the loose end prevented
that.
>
> Learn it, the reef knot, a clove hitch, and the sheet bed (see
> http://131.230.57.1/knots.htm) and you will be set for life.  Make sure
you
> understand the role of each knot.  A figure 8 is also very handy to know.
>
> Mike VA3MW
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dale L Martin" <kg5u@hal-pc.org>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 11:28 AM
> Subject: RE: [Towertalk] Knots
>
>
> >
> > To continue the sea stories subthread, I crewed on a Cal-40 racing in
> > Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico for about 15 years.  I don't recall
a
> > bowline ever working itself loose on our boat.  I don't even remember
> anyone
> > checking before tacking.  When on a tack, the windward sheet (line) is
> slack
> > and tension is off that bowline knot at the genoa clew while the leeward
> > sheet has the strain.
> >
> > Out in the Gulf, there were opportunities for being on one tack for
hours
> > and hours, even days (Galveston-Vera Cruz race).
> >
> > I think that if there was a concern about the bowline going loose and
> > possibly letting go, it wouldn't have been used or we would have done
> > something to preclude it.
> >
> > Maybe the conditions onboard weren't conducive to knot loosening.
> >
> > Under exactly what conditions will an unloaded bowline knot become
loose?
> >
> > 73,
> > dale, kg5u
> >
> > >
> > > You're close.  The only problem with a bowline is that if it's under
> > > no load, it tends to loosen.  You can make it more secure in various
> > > ways.  I believe that it is one of the good knots that maintains more
> > > of the strength of the line.  OTOH, the figure-eight loop is easily
> > > tied, even in the middle of the line and seems to stay tight, but
> > > loses more of the inherent line strength, and perhaps as the obverse
> > > of the above, is hard to untie.  Many of us think a knot should be
> > > easily untied.
> > >
> > > BTW, I've seen figures that indicate an eye splice is actually
> > > stronger than the line, and a cunt splice is the absolute strongest
> > > way of fastening two laid lines together.  But I still don't know how
> > > to make an eye splice in the braided lines I like.
> > >
> > > 73, doug
> >
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