The 5 basic sailor knots you have to know

The 5 basic sailor knots you have to know

We show you the five most basic sailor knots that you have to know.

Plain (or curl) knot
 
The plain knot or curl knot is one of the most elementary and useful sailor knots to learn. It is an easy knot to make and undo. It consists of making two simple knots, like the first one we do to tie the laces, but in opposite directions. Its function is to join two strings that will work in tension.

Eight knot (or lasca)

As the name implies, this sailor knot - also called lasca knot - is shaped like number eight. Although it can undergo a lot of pressure, it is easy to undo. Its function is to stop, that is, to finish off a rope that comes out of a hitch, hatch, pulley, guide, etc.

Ballestrinque knot
 
The crossbow knot is a simple sailor knot and can be undone if it does not receive continuous tension. You have to make a butt knot to secure it. It is ideal for attaching ropes to the handrail of the ship, for example.

Guide Knot
 
It is, without a doubt, one of the most used knots on board. The guide ace is a fixed gauze that does not slip or fall apart, regardless of the tension to which it is subjected. It is normally used to hook the candle to the ropes.

Back knot
 
Like the crossbow knot, the turned knot must always have a stable tension because otherwise it falls apart. It serves to join two ropes of different thickness but adds additional security. With this knot it is important that both whiskers remain on the same side, otherwise it would be more unstable. It is also crucial to keep in mind that the thinnest string is the one that should be used to make turns around the breast.