shipknots

Shipknots are the knots used on ships and boats to secure lines, rigging, and gear. They cover a range of knot types, including bends, hitches, loops, and lashings, chosen for reliability, ease of inspection, and performance under maritime loads. The term encompasses both everyday deck knots and those used in rigging, mooring, towing, and cargo handling.

On a vessel, shipknots serve many functions: securing sails and lines, tying off fenders, mooring and towing lines, lashings for cargo and spars, and rigging components. The choice of knot is influenced by the rope material (natural fiber, nylon, polyester, polypropylene) and the expected load, duration, and exposure to elements such as moisture and fouling.

Common examples and roles include:

- Bowline: a fixed loop that remains secure and easy to untie after loading.

- Figure-eight: a stopper knot or the basis for a figure-eight loop, used to prevent lines from slipping through openings.

- Sheet bend: joins two ropes, useful when adapting line length or joining different diameters.

- Clove hitch: quick securing knot to a post or rail, often used for temporary fastenings.

- Cleat hitch: standard method to secure a line to a boat cleat.

- Reef knot (square knot): joins ends of similar ropes but is less reliable under uneven loading; used with caution.

- Two half-hitches and round-turn with two half-hitches: common mooring or securing knots.

Lashings such as square lashings and diagonal lashings are used to bind spars, poles, or frames when building or repairing gear at sea. Shipknots have a long tradition and are documented in nautical manuals and reference works, reflecting both practical skill and safety considerations.