What is the difference between a knot and a bend

I posted a couple of pieces about rope recently which led me to wonder about the terms used for rope work — in particular the differences between a Knot, a Bend and a Hitch.

I mean, does it really matter — so long as you know what to do with the blessed thing? Ok, well yes, maybe I am becoming a bit of a nerd, a bit academic maybe. Still, when questions like this spring to mind, I usually reach for the most thumbed pages of any book in my library the 'Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea'. In truth the terms are pretty much interchangeable. Some argue that in days gone by the terms had much more defined usage but this may not be true either because many of the names originally given to methods of fastening ropes were technically inaccurate.

A reef 'knot', for example might be better described as a Bend or a Hitch. The most famous true knot therefore is probably the Matthew Walker knot, in which unravelled rope ends are used to put an elaborate knob on the end. Overhand Knot This shows two overhand knots; the right hand one is pulled tight.

An overhand knot is not really very useful in ptactice. Figure of Eight Knot A figure of eight knot is used as a stopper knot to stop a line pulling though a fairlead. Reef Knot This is one often the first knot or bend people learn - right over left and left over right, but it is a weak knot. Sheet bend A sheet bend is for joioning two ropes, which may be of different sizes. The two free ends should be on the same side. Clove Hitch.

Timber hitch and half hitch : It is used for lowering a spar vertically up or down through a narrow opening such as man hold or towing a log stern. Black wall hitch : It is used for hitching a rope quickly to the hook but they are not reliable.

They are normally used when the rope and hooks are of the same size:. Double black wall hitch : It is used when the rope and hooks are of different size. Stage hitch : For working over side paint work, stages have to be rigged.

A stage is a strong thick plank of wood, at least 43 cms in breadth with two cross pieces nailed at the right angles are called harm. Two lengths of tested manila rope 20mm diameter are used with the stage. Your email address will not be published. Related Article: Surface Preparation Standards.