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Welcome to Scouting Knots
Selection
These animated knots are described for scouts, but most of them have critical uses in other environments. The selection of knots is based on consultation with many scouting leaders and a review of the requirements by some national organizations.
Choices
Rather than show the Fisherman's Knot the Double Fisherman's is used because it is safer and more widely used. The Fisherman's can easily be created by substituting Overhand Knots for the Double Overhand Knots. The Sheepshank is included reluctantly for reasons explained on its page. I make no apology for also including the Constrictor and Alpine Butterfly. They are both useful and more valuable than the Sheepshank.
Optional Knots
Some additional knots which have been listed for teaching to scouts 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 Sheet Bend is pictured on the Sheet Bend Page. The Pipe Hitch is not described as several knots appear to share this name, one of which is the same as the Klemheist. The Masthead or Jury Knot is not described here as it appears to have limited use but you can find how to make it on the page about the Masthead Knot Mat in the decorative section. So far at least, the Cat's paw, Draw Hitch, and Honda are not included.
Which Knot Should I Use?
Joining Ends of Two Ropes
Join two ropes with compact, neat knot
Join two ropes of unequal size
Join string ends to secure a parcel
Stop a Rope's End Unraveling
Splice Ends into Rope
Quick Temporary Knot
Secure Binding Knot
Simple Whipping
Very Secure Whipping
Use temporary stopper knot
Make a Loop in a Piece of Rope
Make a loop in the end of a rope
Make a loop in middle of piece of rope
Adjustable Loop using Rolling Hitch
Make a permanent loop in end of rope
Lashings
Lash two poles for weight bearing
Lash diagonal poles for bracing
Lash poles side by side
Make a tripod
Make shear legs
Attach Rope to Pole, Ring, Cleat
Attach to Ring or Pole
Attach to Mast Cleat
Basic Knots
First part a hitch
Coil a Rope
Coil Unattached Rope
Take the Load Off a Taut Line
Attach a rope to another taut rope
Lift Barrel with Rope
Attach a rope to barrel for lifting
Slide and Grip Knots
Slide & Grip with the end of a rope
Secure a Tarpaulin
Adjustable ridge line for tent
Tighten a tarpaulin with a 3:1 purchase
Make a Rope Ladder
Use marlinspike hitches to make ladder
Stopper Knot
Simple Figure 8 Stopper Knot
Reliable stopper knot in rope end
Shorten a Rope
Reduces rope's length (unreliable)
Tow a Log or Spar
Attach rope temporarily to a spar or log
Set a Tent
Tension a Ridgeline or Guy Line
Scouting Requirements
Some national organizations specify detailed requirements for advancement and for various activities. These lists change with time and some are overdue for revision because they contain errors or knots of almost no value. Other countries describe projects and activities that involve using knots, but provide no specified lists. The lists below were compiled from data on websites in the US and UK:
Required Knots, US
From www.USScouts.org (effective February 18, 2014):
Boy Scout Joining Requirement
Square Knot
Tenderfoot
Two Half Hitches
Taut-Line Hitch, see: Rolling Hitch
First Class
Timber Hitch
Clove Hitch
Square Lashing
Shear Lashing
Diagonal Lashing
Merit Badge Knots, US
Thanks to Matt Sorensen and Willard Burt who helped me compile this this list from www.scouting.org:
Climbing Merit Badge
Double Fisherman's Knot (Grapevine Knot)
Figure Eight on a Bight
Figure Eight Follow-Through
Safety knot
Water knot
Fishing and Fly-Fishing Merit Badges
Arbor Knot
Blood Knot
Clinch
Double Surgeon's Loop
Palomar
Loop to Loop
Turle (omitted as it is one of the weakest knots)
Pioneering Merit Badge
Back Splice
Bowline
Diagonal Lashing
Eye Splice
Round Lashing
Round Turn with Two Half Hitches
Shear Lashing
Sheet Bend
Short Splice
Square knot
Square Lashing
Tripod Lashing
Sheepshank (included very reluctantly – too high a failure rate)
Rowing Merit Badge
Bowline
Clove Hitch
Round Turn with Two Half-Hitches
Tumble Hitch (Added, see below)
Mooring Hitch (omitted, Tumble Hitch better alternative)
Wellman's Knot (omitted, Tumble Hitch better alternative)
Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge
Bowline
Cleat Hitch
Clove Hitch
Figure Eight Knot
Square (Reef) Knot
Two Half Hitches
Merit Badge Knots, UK
This list was compiled from scouts.org.uk:
Basic Nautical Skills
Clove Hitch
Figure Eight Knot
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
Nautical Skills
Back Splice
Cleat Hitch
Eye Splice
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
Sailmaker's Whipping
Advanced Nautical Skills
Bowline
Clove Hitch
Decorative Knot
Figure Eight Knot
Rolling Hitch
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
Sheet bend
Pioneer Activity
Coil Rope
Splice
Whipping
Outdoor Construction requiring Lashings
Diagonal
Round
Shear
Square
Tripod