Except for use in “jump rope” or “tug-of-war,” it’s difficult to employ cordage without some form of knot, bend, hitch or splice being involved. Fortunately, these “complications,” as Clifford Ashley in The Ashley Book of Knots calls them, are all free, and every rope has at least one just waiting to be formed.
For those who have no desire or motivation to integrate more than one knot into their repertoire, the rolling hitch (Figure 1465, The Ashley Book of Knots) would be the knot that we’d recommend; it is the one knot that gets extensive use on our boat.
The rolling hitch is simple to learn and use. On a recreational boat, it can be employed to do just about any job for which a knot is required. It is secure, adjustable and can be untied while under a load.
Similar to a clove hitch, which can loosen or undo itself if the line repeatedly slackens and tightens, the rolling hitch has an additional turn that makes the knot more secure, and snugged up tight it does not slip.
One good example is when belaying to an object, we’ll take a turn or two and then end with a rolling hitch placed around the line’s standing part. It, or one of its cousins, like a camel hitch, is ideal for hitching a snubber to a rode, whether the rode is rope or chain.
If the rolling hitch slips, one idea to eliminate this slipping is to convert the end of the line into a “snubber braid.” Use this braided portion to form the rolling hitch. This snubber braid can be found in The Ashley Book of Knots as the “common sinnet” (figure 2965), or at http://www.trawlertrainingabc.com.
We eliminated spliced eyes in our dock lines years ago primarily because the line can be adjusted only from one end. Instead, we belay both ends of our dock lines by 1) using a cleat hitch; or 2) putting a turn or two around the belaying point, doubling back the line, then putting a rolling hitch on the line’s standing part.
For those unable to do either of these, take two or three turns around a cleat or post, finish off with one or two overhand knots around the standing part. This will hold most boats adequately until things can be switched out to the captain’s preferred way of doing things. Almost too simple.
For those who wish to learn these or other knots, in addition to The Ashley Book of Knots there are many other how to references available, in hard copy or online.