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Nautical Bends

A Bend joins two rope ends or two parts of the same rope. Bends should be considered as temporary expedients. Where something more permanent is required, splicing should be considered.
In maritime situations, ‘the bends are friends’ because they are tied and untied readily.
Where bends are tied as a fixture, or to be discarded after use, as in parcel tying, knots that jam are often used. However, in the case of more valuable and heavier ropes, the bend should be a transient feature and the knot should render easily to the prick of a marlinspike or fid.
Bend knots have steep history in the nautical world and have been extensively called upon to to join heavier hawser or cable. The nautical world has learnt to trust them best when ropes are of equal size and material. Careful knot selection is required when one rope is larger, stiffer or smoother than the other. Be warned, many of the bend knots are not to be trusted in such situations.
 
The Albright knot is a quick and easy method of attaching cordage or lighter line to heavier line. It is used where the lines vary significantly in diameter size.
The Angler's Knot is a simple line to line knot which is tied with two overhand knots over two standing parts. Both standing parts are then pulled together until the two overhand knots meet. While quick and easy to tie it is not a good fishing knot with n
This bend can be used to join virtually any materials and has the advantage of taking a load in any of four directions.
The bowline bend can join ropes of any thickness and is often used as an alternative to other knots because the bowline is relatively easy to untie even after it has been under strain.
The Carrick Bend is most likely the nearest of the bends to perfect in that it is symmetrical. Easy to tie, it has good holding holding wet ropes and doesn't jam, making it relatively easy to untie.
The Cove knot is a simplistic method of joining two lines and is probably one of the oldest forms of doing this, still in use today. The Cove knot is useful in that it can be tied quickly and can tie lines of different thickness.
The Double Figure of Eight bend is an oft used knot by boaters and climbers. It combines two Figure of Eight knots that are drawn together to work as a bend.
The Double Harness Bend is a practical knot, particularly suited to small line for parcel tying or joining a broken shoe lace without the need to unthread the shoe.
Excellent bend for joining webbing, tape or cords and holds well when wet.
The Double Sheet Bend has all the advantages of the Sheet Bend and exceeds it by being more secure and just as easy to tie and untie.
The Drawing Bend is a practical knot, particularly suited to small line for parcel tying or joining a broken shoe lace without the need to unthread the shoe.
The English Knot is a simple line to line knot which is tied with two overhand knots over two standing parts. Both standing parts are then pulled together until the two overhand knots meet. While quick and easy to tie it is not a good fishing knot with ny
The figure of eight bend provides a quick, secure join between two ropes of light to medium weight. It is preferred by climbers, due to being easy to tie and its security.
The Fisherman's Knot is a simple line to line knot which is tied with two overhand knots over two standing parts. Both standing parts are then pulled together until the two overhand knots meet. While quick and easy to tie it is not a good fishing knot wit
The Flemish bend provides a quick, secure join between two ropes of light to medium weight. It is preferred by climbers, due to being easy to tie and its security.
Excellent bend for joining webbing, tape or cords and holds well when wet.
The Halibut Knot is a simple line to line knot which is tied with two overhand knots over two standing parts. It is better used in light rope, twine or cordage applications.
The Heaving Line Bend is not to be confused with the Heaving Line Knot. The bend is used for joining two lines, usually of dissimilar sizes and weight together.
The Hunter's Bend is a useful knot for joining slippery lines such as polypropylene and other nylon based cords and lines.
Surgeon's uses the Litagure Knot to tie off stitching and is handy in that case in that the mutiple wraps help hold the required pressure while the locking portion of the knot is tied.
he Parcel Bend is a practical knot, particularly suited to small line for parcel tying or joining a broken shoe lace without the need to unthread the shoe.
The Racking Bend is more secure than the sheet bend and is well suited to attaching lighter cordage to heavier (larger) hawser.
Excellent bend for joining webbing, tape or cords and holds well when wet.
The Shake Hands Bend is an excellent line joining bend for light cordage through to heavier ropes. Easy to tie, easy to adjust and easy to untie, sums this bend up in a nutshell.
The Sheet Bend serves almost every purpose well providing it is tied with two ends of similar material.
The Simple Simon Double is a quick and easy method of attaching cordage or lighter line to heavier line. It is used where the lines vary significantly in diameter size.
The surgeon's knot is not a preferred line joining knot, although fly fisherman and some anglers use it from time to time. All too often confused with the multi overhand knot.
Excellent bend for joining webbing, tape or cords and holds well when wet.
The Water knot is a simplistic method of joining two lines and is probably one of the oldest forms of doing this, still in use today.
The Fisherman's Knot is a simple line to line knot which is tied with two overhand knots over two standing parts. It is better used in light rope, twine or cordage applications.
 
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