The Reef Knot is in the "Knot that joins" category.
Main Use
Used to tie two rope ends together – either the two ends of the same rope or two ends of separate ropes, as long as they are the same material and diameter.
It’s original use was to reef a furled down main sail by tying off the lower two feet or so of a sail to the boom in winds too strong for the whole sail. This is the source of it’s name. Also known as a Square Knot.
How to Tie a Reef Knot
In the pictures, one rope is coloured black for clarity purposes.
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Start with one end in each hand.
Place the left line over the right line.
Pass the left under and around the right.
Place the right line over the left line.
Pass the right under the left and through.
Draw snug.
Pull hard to test for slip, before applying critical load.
A Reef Knot should appear balanced with the two under lines facing opposite directions.
A Reef Knot should be easy to push loose and pull tight. If not, then you’ve tied a “Granny Knot” which will either slip apart or jam under load being difficult to untie. Never use a Granny Knot around a boat.
Video
Easy to Remember
Left over right and under
Right over left and through.
Conditions
Reef knots only hold, if both ropes are the same diameter and material.
For un-identical ropes, use a Sheet Bend because the Reef Knot will slip apart, if you tie un-identical ropes.
For slippery ropes like Polypropylene, use a Sheet Bend (it will be covered in the next newsletter).
The Reef Knot only unties easily, if not too much load is applied. For a heavy load like towing a dinghy, or other boat, or lengthening an anchor rode, join the two ropes with two interlocking bowlines.
Examples of use
Joining two nylon dock lines.
Lengthening a fender line.
Tying a hat strap under your chin.
Tying a line around your waist as a belt.
Joining two pieces of cord to make a clothes line longer.
Tying two ends of a cord around a rolled sleeping bag or a rolled piece of carpet or any parcel.
Tying an arm sling in a triangular piece of fabric like a St.John Ambulance bandage. The Reef Knot is preferred because it lies flat on the collar bone and doesn’t dig in like the Granny Knot.
Variations
Switch left for right – if you want, you can tie a Reef Knot by starting with the right over left, then left over right and through. This is the opposite hand but the result is the same.
We use a variation of the Reef Knot when we tie our shoe laces. For shoes, we fold the ends over rather than put them through, so they pull untied more easily.
There is a way to lock a Reef Knot in place to ensure it doesn’t slip apart. Tie your Reef Knot as usual except with several inches of extra rope on the bitter ends (loose ends). With these extras, tie a half hitch around the standing part (load) of the rope snug against both edges of the knot—as shown.
The Surgeon’s Knot variation or doubled variation of the Reef Knot is more secure. To tie – After your initial left over right, go around a second time. Then, after your initial right over left, go around a second time. Pull snug.
Surgeon's Knot
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Summary
For light weight loads only on identical ropes, a Reef Knot is fast and easy to tie and untie, and usually won’t slip.
Have fun with your ropes, lines & knots.
Knots are Free and Reliable.
Learn them once and use them forever, year round.
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