Old timer at a hardware store told me my anchor knots were all wrong last spring

I was picking up some rope for a mooring line in Seward and an old fisherman just watched me tie a quick bend and shook his head. He showed me how a simple double figure-eight would hold way better in tidal pulls and I've switched all my dock lines since. Has anyone else had a local give them a tip that changed their whole rigging setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

thompson.robin24d ago

Picked up a trick from an old crabber down in Dutch Harbor who told me my bowline was fine for tying shoes but not for anything that sees saltwater every day. He showed me a double overhand stopper knot that locks the tail back against the standing part, and I haven't had a single line slip since. Now I tie all my fender lines that way too, makes a huge difference when the wind kicks up and the boat starts bouncing off the dock.

jesse_cooper23d ago

Huh, I read somewhere that half the knots people use on boats are basically just for show in rough weather.