Hot Boats & Watercraft How-Tos
How To: Tie a Tautline Hitch knot
Learn how to tie a Tautline Hitch - a good gripping hitch that is quick to tie and resists sliding when the pull is parallel to the object to which it is tied. It is quite similar to the Rolling Hitch. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Butterfly knot
Learn how to tie a Butterfly Knot - a handy way of forming a loop in a bight of rope that is quick to tie and generally easy to untie. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Cat's Paw knot
Learn how to tie a Cat's Paw - a handy way of forming a loop in a bight of rope to attach to a hook or other object. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Spanish Bowline knot
Learn how to tie a Spanish Bowline - a good way of tying a bowline with two loops. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Whipping knot
Learn how to tie a Whipping - How to apply a whipping to a line to protect it from unraveling or to form an aglet at the end of a rope. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Tack knot
Learn how to tie a Tack Knot - a secure way of attaching a rope to a fixed object such that it won't come undone even if shaken and flogged. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Poldo Tackle knot
Learn how to tie a Poldo Tackle - A clever arrangement using two interconnected bowlines to form a stable tackle.
How To: Tie a Prusik Hitch knot
Learn how to tie a Prusik Knot - sometimes misspeled "Prussik" - A bi-directional gripping knot that strongly resists sliding when the pull is parallel to the object to which it is tied. It can be used as an aid to ascend or climb another rope. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Sheepshank from a Tom Fool's knot
Learn how to tie a Sheepshank using a Tom Fool's Knot as a base - This is a quick and stable means of tying a sheepshank knot. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Klemheist Hitch knot
Learn how to tie a Klemheist Hitch - This is a gripping knot made using a loop of small diameter rope applied to the main line or object. It greatly resists slipping when the pull is parallel to the main line. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie an Icicle Hitch knot
Learn how to tie an Icicle Hitch - A superb gripping knot that strongly resists slipping, stainless steel or other smooth surfaces, when the pull is parallel to the object to which it is tied. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie an Artillery Hitch (Loop) knot
Learn how to tie an Artillery Hitch or loop - A secure way of forming a loop in the standing part of a rope so that the loop lies perpendicular to the line. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie a Constrictor Hitch knot
Learn how to tie a Constrictor Hitch - a great knot for tying a binding or bundle. It holds incredibly tightly and can be slipped for easy untying. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Stopper Knot
Learn how to tie a Stopper Knot - A quick way to form a stopper at the end of a line to prevent it from pulling through a block or other object. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, rock climbing, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches knots
Learn how to tie a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches - a quick and secure way of attaching a rope to a railing or other fixed object. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie a Turk's Head knot - on a cylinder and spherical
Learn how to tie a Turk's Head Knot - a decorative knot used to cover a cylindrical object, or it can be worked into a tight ball or sphere. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie a Rolling Hitch knot
Learn how to tie a Rolling Hitch - a useful knot for attaching a rope to a railing, post, or another rope where the pull is along the length of the fixed object. It isn't as good at resisting slipping as an Icicle Hitch, but it is a good deal quicker to tie. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie an Anchor Hitch / Bucket Hitch knot
Learn how to tie an Anchor Hitch (also known as a Bucket Hitch) - A very secure means of attaching a rope to an anchor or any other object that you can't afford to loose (like a bucket down a well, I suppose - thus the alternate name). I actually do use this hitch for temporary anchor attachment (preferring to permanently splice instead) as well as for my bucket lanyards when washing down my boat's deck.
How To: Tie a Blood Knot
Learn how to tie a Blood Knot - Used in sailing as a somewhat decorative stopper knot or on the business end of a Cat 'O Nine Tails (hence the Blood Knot's name). This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Tom Fool's Knot
Learn how to tie a Tom Fool's knot - this knot is a basis for a number of decorative and functional knots. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Grass Bend
How to tie a Grass Bend - A good knot for joining together two ropes made of stiff material - seat belt webbing, for example. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Bowline on the Bight
Leanr how to tie a Bowline on the Bight - This is a means of tying a bowline in the certer portion of a rope. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie the Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot
Learn how to tie a Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot - used as an emergency harness for hoisting a person. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Jury Knot
This will show you how to tie a Jury Knot. Used at the mast head to "jury rig" a sailboat. The mast goes into the center of the knot, stays are run from the three loops and the two standing ends are run to the deck as a back stay. As tension is applies to the stays, the knot grips the mast tighter and tighter. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Thief Knot
This video shows you how to tie a Thief Knot. This knot looks a Reef Knot to the casual observer and so can be used to determine if a thief is tampering with your belongings bag - secure it with a Thief Knot, and if you find it re-tied with a Reef Knot, you know someone has been messing with your stuff. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Portuguese Bowline
This will show you how to tie a Portuguese Bowline - similar to a normal bowline but with an extra turn in the loop portion, making it more chafe resistant. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Shamrock knot / True Lover's knot
This shows you how to tie a Shamrock Knot / True Lover's Knot - A decorative knot, built from two Thumb Knots, that forms the shape of a shamrock. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie square lashing knots with animated knot tying help
Learn how to tie a knot, but not just any old knot... a square lashing knot. You'll never have any troubles again tying nautical square lashing knots, thanks to this Marinews knot tie animated tutorial. You can learn by simply watching the knot tying animation at a moderate speed, or if need be, click on "learn by steps" to get step-by-step rope knot instructions for square lashing knots. How to make a knot is not the hard part, choosing the right fishing knots or rope knot is.
How To: Tie a Trucker's Hitch Knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Trucker's Hitch Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Trucker's Hitch Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Tie a Trucker's Hitch Knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie the Eye Splice knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Eye Splice Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Eye Splice Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie the Eye Splice knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie the Anchor Bend knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Anchor Bend Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Anchor Bend Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie the Anchor Bend knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie a Bowline on a Bight with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Bowline on a Bight Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Bowline on a Bight Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie a Bowline on a Bight with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie the Constrictor Knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Constrictor Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Constrictor Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie the Constrictor Knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie a Reef (Square) Knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Reef (Square) Knot Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Reef (Square) Knot Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie a Reef (Square) Knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches Boating knot
Learn how to tie the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches Knot for boating. The animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches Boating knot.
How To: Tie a cleat hitch
Need help with your knots? Ann and Matt from BoatUS teach new boaters how to tie a cleat hitch at the dock. Know your knots and practice tying a cleat hitch knot by watching this instructional knot tying video. Improve your skills and tie knots like a pro.
How To: Tie a figure eight knot
Ann and Matt of BoatUS teach boaters how to tie a figure eight or stopper knot. This is a very valuable knot for sailors to know. So check out this instructional knot tying video to improve your knot tying skills by learning how to tie a figure eight knot.
How To: Tie a bowline knot
Check out this instructional knot tying video that shows viewers how to tie a bowline knot around a chair. Practice and improve your knot tying skills by watching this tutorial and learn how to tie a bowline knot like an expert.
How To: Remove old boat lettering from your boat
It's easy to remove the old lettering from your boat before applying your new boat graphics. Check out this instructional boating video to learn how to do just that. Heat them with a hair dryer and slowly peel them off. When you have all of them removed, scrape off any remaining glue residue and clean the surface thoroughly using ordinary glass cleaner. Your new boat lettering is ready to be applied.
How To: Tie a sheepshank knot with Capt. Jerry Smith
The sheepshank knot is used to take up slack on a line. In this instructional boating video, Capt. Jerry Smith of TowBoatUS Charlotte Harbor demonstrates how to tie the sheepshank knot at this year's towing convention. Improve your knot tying skills by watching this boating tutorial video.