Grog's Index of Scouting Knots

Scouting Knots

Welcome to Scouting Knots

These animated knots are described for scouts, but most of them have critical uses in other environments. Select the knots from: the index obove left; the pictures above; or, the Scouting Uses page.

The selection of knots is based on consultation with many scouting leaders and a reveiw of the requirements by some national oganizations. Click on the picture on the right to see an enlargement.

Required Knots, US:

For the US requirements I am indebted to Paul Wolf who drew my attention to the revision for the Pioneering Merit Badge (Jan 1st 2006). With the Tenderfoot requirements the list includes: Half Hitches, Taut Line Hitch (Rolling Hitch), Timber Hitch, Clove Hitch, Square Knot, Bowline, Sheepshank, Sheet Bend, and Round Turn with Two Half Hitches.

Required Knots, UK:

For the UK requirements I thank Brenda Eustace of the Scout Association UK who directed me to: Pioneer Requirements and the Nautical Skills- Ropework. Between them these list the: Sheetbend, Clove Hitch, Round Turn and Two Half Hitches, Bowline, Timber Hitch, Sheepshank, Trucker's (Harvester's) Hitch, Double Sheetbend, Fisherman's Knot, Rolling Hitch, Figure of Eight Lashing, Square and Sheer Lashings, Diagonal Lashing, Eyesplice, Short Splice, Back Splice, and Stopper Knot.

Additional Knots:

With the exception of the lashings which are not covered on this site, these knots are either listed on this page or may be found elsewhere on this site. No separate page is devoted to Half Hitches because they are clearly shown on the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches page. Also, instead of the Fisherman's Knot the Double Fisherman's is used. It is safer and more widely used and the Fisherman's can easily be created by substituting Overhand Knots for the Double Overhand Knots. The Sheepshank is deliberately listed last for reasons explained on its page. I make no apology for including the Constrictor, Alpine Butterfly, and Prusik. They are all useful and any one would be better included as a replacement for the Sheepshank.

Optional Knots:

Some additional knots which have been listed for teaching to scouts were omitted here to keep this page acceptably compact. They are described elsewhere on this website: the Water Knot, the Bowline on a Bight, the Carrick Bend, and the Sailmaker's Whipping. The Tautline Hitch is regarded as a variation of the Rolling Hitch. The Double Sheetbend is pictured on the Sheetbend Page. The Pipe Hitch is not described as it is essentially the same as the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches with additional wraps round the pipe. The Masthead or Jury Knot is not described as it appears to be conspicuously useless but you can find the Masthead Knot Mat in the decorative section. So far at least, the Cat's paw, Draw Hitch, and Honda are not included.