How to Tie a Sailing Knot that's Stronger than a Bowline!
Did you realize that anytime you tie a sailing knot into a piece of line, the line loses strength? But there's one little-known sailing knot you can learn to tie that's strong, easy to tie, and causes less loss of strength than most other knots. A straight piece of line has 100% of it's rated strength. Bend, twist, or knot any part of the line, and it will weaken it by a certain percentage. Choose knots that retain as much of the original strength as possible. Check out this table of common sailing knots to see what percentage they weaken a line:
| How Common Knots Reduce Line Strength |
| Type of Knot |
Average Loss of Strength |
Anchor Hitch |
25% |
Round Turn and Two Half-Hitches |
30% |
Bowline Knot |
35% |
Clove Hitch |
40% |
Becket (Sheet) Bend |
45% |
Square (Reef) Knot |
55% |
*table created from "The Practical Mariner's Book of Knowledge" by John Vigor.
Every sailor should know how to tie the super strong and reliable anchor hitch. You can use this to bend (tie) a line to an anchor shackle in a pinch if you need to make up a second anchor in a hurry. It's easier to tie than the bowline and 10% stronger. Grab a piece of line and follow these easy steps.
1. Make two turns around a shackle or ring (illustration 1). Leave 9" to 12" of bitter end so that you have enough line left over to finish the knot.
2. Pass the bitter end through both loops (illustration 2). Seize the bitter end to the standing part for more security.
3. As an alternative to seizing--pass the bitter end one more time through both loops (illustration 3). Remove all slack and cinch the knot up tight.
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Place the anchor hitch near the top of your list of "most important" sailing knots. Use this vital knot for strength, reliability, and confidence for anchoring safety--wherever in the world you choose to cruise!
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