Campcraft

Camp craft notes

1. Thumb Knot.

Description

 The most basic knot

 Stopper knot

Once tied and put under strain, it is difficult to untie due to strain acting on one point.

Function

 Used as a handhold and stopper e.g. (Tied at regular intervals of lifelines to prevent the rope from slipping through the hands.)

Commonly used to temporary “stop” the end of a fraying rope.

 2. Figure of eight                                                    

Description

Temporarily stops the ends of a rope from fraying, before the rope is whipped.

More effective than using a Thumb Knot since it does not jam so easily.

Function

Used as a handhold and stopper e.g. (Tied at regular intervals of lifelines to prevent the rope from slipping through the hands.)

 Commonly used to temporary “stop” the end of a fraying rope.

3. Reef knot                                                 

Description

Bends knot

Unravels under heavy stress

Function

·         tying two pieces of twine together

·         parcel tying

·         first aid(bandages)

·         Joining two ropes of equal thickness.

4. Sheet bend 

Description

If the knot has been tied correctly, the end result should have both ends of the twine being on the same side

·         Ending the working ends at alternate sides would weaken the knot severely.

·         It can be further secured by making an additional turn, forming double sheet bend.

Function

  Used for joining ropes especially ropes of unequal thickness.

5.Fisherman's knot

Description

  Bends knot

·         Consists of two thumb knots, which secure each other when under strain

·         Also known as anchor bend

Function

Used for joining ropes of small and equal diameters of ropes, made of smooth or wet materials.

 6. Clove Hitch

Description

Hitch

Other methods of tying clove hitches do exist, however, many of them cannot be used when the rope is under strain.

Rarely jams, but might suffer from the hitch unraveling  under tension if the pole is able to turn.

Function

 Used for attaching twine/rope to a pole            

·         Used to start/finish lashes                                    

7. Bowline       

Description

Loop knot

 A popular, and commonly used method of remembering the tying procedure:

 "The rabbit goes out of the hole behind the tree, then back into the hole"

·         Has the advantage of not jamming, compared to some other loop forming knots

·         For added security, the knot can be finished with a stopper knot such as a Figure of Eight knot to remove any possibility of the Bowline slipping.

Function        

 Used for attaching twine to sleeve rings of tents ( Loop will not tighten when under strain, causing no damage to the tent.)

                  

8.Sheepshank                 

          

Description

  The knot is only secure when under tension; it will fall apart when the rope is slackened

Always ensure that the knot is tight before use or else it will slip.

Function    

 Used for shortening ropes without cutting them

Used to bypass worn/frayed sections in the twine/rope, in order to prevent snapping of the twine/rope