A Beginner's Guide To Boating Knots

Anyone who owns a boat should learn some standard boating knots. These ties come in handy in many situations, such as securing your boat to a dock, securing a rope to the anchor, measuring how fast your boat is moving, and measuring the wind speed. But with so many boat knots out there, it can be confusing for beginners to know which ones to learn first. That's why we created this basic guide. It walks you through essential knots to use as a starting point. You can always learn more, but the following options should keep you covered in most situations. 

If you want more information or want to explore boats for sale, chat with the experts at Mark's Leisure Time Marine. We are located in Conesus and Canandaigua, New York, and we proudly serve those in Rochester as well.

Helpful Terms

There are a few useful knot-tying terms to know before you get started:

• the tail (also called the working end): the part of the rope that is free and loose
• the standing line: the long part of the rope that typically ends in a big coil or to the object that the knot is going to secure
• fixed knots: knots that do not get adjusted or moved
• a bend: a knot that connects two ropes or lines
• a hitch: something that anchors the boat by securing a line or rope to a piling, cleat, or stanchion
• bight: a loop made in the rope or line

A Figure-Eight Knot

This boat knot is simple to learn and simple to undo. It's sturdy, but less permanent to an overhand knot.

The steps are:

• bring the rope over itself, making a loop
• draw the loop under the standing part of the rope and then through the initial loop, making a figure-eight pattern

A Bowline Knot

This knot is helpful for fastening a mooring line. It can also be used in an emergency situation to assist someone who has fallen overboard (since they can easily tie this knot around their waist).

The steps are:

• make a loop
• move the tail of the rope through the loop
• move the tail of the rope under and over the standing part on the other side of the loop
• then pull the tail back through the loop

This boat knot can sometimes be tough to visualize. A common way to teach this knot to children can also be helpful to adults trying to learn: "the rabbit comes out of the hole, goes round the back of the tree and jumps back into the hole." Here, the "rabbit" is the tale of the rope while the "hole" and "tree” are made from the standing end of the rope.

Mooring Hitch

This temporary knot is perfect for mooring your boat. It resembles a pretzel that has a large loop on one side. When you want to undo the knot, pull the free end and it easily comes apart.

The steps are:

• place the rope around a post
• make a loop with the free end (leaving some extra length)
• position the tail of the rope so that it exits the loop from the inside
• grab the standing line and pull a section of it through the loop
• grab the free end and put it partway through the new loop
• tighten the knot by pulling down the standing line

We hope you found this beginner's guide to boat knots helpful! For more boating advice or to shop boats for sale, head over to Mark's Leisure Time Marine. Our friendly staff is happy to help you with whatever you need, from answering questions to making tailored suggestions on which boat to get. We offer dealerships in Conesus and Canandaigua, New York. We also proudly serve those in Rochester, New York.