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Know your knots
Photos Ben White
and Josh Giumelli
With stricter laws in place governing load restraints in many Australian states, the days of tying a load down with rope
may be numbered. But ropes and knots will always have a place on Australian farms, as Josh Giumelli writes.
R
atchet tie-down straps are the tool
of choice these when securing a
load. They are strong and easy to
tighten, and can conveniently be
re-tightened if the load loosens.
It is also easier to select a tie-down strap
which is load rated, rather than a rope,
although a tagged and rated rope is perfectly
legal for tying down a load. One casualty
of the use of ratchet tie-down straps is that
many of us are losing the ability, or never
learn, to tie decent knots.
A good rope is a versatile tool when it
is coupled with some useful knots, and is
essential kit for when things go wrong.
But you don’t need a mariner’s knowledge
of knots to put it to good use. A selection
of handy knots and a little practice will
increase the usefulness of that coil of rope
stashed behind the front seat in the ute.
A few definitions
Before we start on some handy knots, a
few terms need explaining (see Figure 1).
When tying a knot, the end of the rope you
are using is known as the working end. The
rest of the rope is known as the standing
part, and the opposite end of the rope is
known as the standing end.
If you fold the rope back on itself without
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Farming Ahead July 2015 No. 282
crossing it over, it is known as a bight. If
the bight is crossed over, it is known as
a loop, and if it is crossed over twice, it
becomes an elbow. An overhand loop is
where the working end passes over the
top of the standing part, and an underhand
loop is where it passes underneath the
standing part.
Figure 1: Rope and knot terms
Standing part
Working end
Elbow
Underhand
loop
Overhand
loop
Bight
Standing end
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1
A clove hitch is great for quickly tying
a rope to a railing. Start by passing the
working end around the railing in a loop
from front to back.
4
For a quick-release version of the knot,
simply tuck a bight through the diagonal
loop instead of the working end. A
simple tug of the working end will
release the knot.
7
Now pass the working end around the
rail, bringing it out on the other side of
the standing part.
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Farming Ahead July 2015 No. 282
2
3
Bring the working end diagonally over
the standing part, and around the railing
on the other side of the standing part.
Tuck the working end under the diagonal
loop and pull down. Now pull on the
standing part to tighten the knot.
6
5
A more secure method of fastening rope
to a railing begins with a loop as with the
clove hitch.
Pass the working end diagonally over
the standing part, and then pass the
working end around the rail again, bring
it diagonally over the standing part as
before.
9
8
Pass the working end through the
diagonal loop and pull tight.
Pull tight on the standing part to finish
the knot.
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10
A bowline is a great all-purpose knot for
forming a non-slip loop, and is easy to
untie, even if it has been placed under
a lot of tension. Start by forming an
overhand loop in the standing part. The
working end has been passed around the
tie-down rail.
13
Finally, pass the working end back
through the loop and pull tight. The
bowline is complete.
16
Now form an underhand loop in the
standing part of the rope, while holding
the previous loop in your right hand.
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Farming Ahead July 2015 No. 282
11
19
12
Pass the working end through the loop
as shown.
14
There are many ways of tying a truckie’s
hitch, but this is about the simplest way,
and the easiest to undo. Start by forming
a loop in the standing part of the rope
which passes over the load. Pass the
working end around the tie-down railing.
17
Now take the working end and pass it
around the back of the standing part.
20
Wrap the rope around your hand and
elbow as shown, until you have about a
loop or more remaining.
21
15
Bring the working end up and around the
loop as shown.
Wrap the loop tightly around the head of the coil as shown.
22
18
Now pass the right hand loop through the
left hand loop.
There are several ways to tidy or coil a
rope. If you want to hang you rope up on
a hook on the wall, this method works
well. Start by grasping both ends in one
hand.
Pull down on the working end to tighten
the rope, and tie off on the tie-down rail
to complete the job.
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Pass the end of the loop through the top
of the coil and out the other side. Pull
tight, and the coil can then be hung by
the loop.
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23
This method also works very well for
tidying extension cords without tangling
or twisting them.
No. 282 July 2015 Farming Ahead
29
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25
24
An alpine coil is also good for tidying rope, and does not tend to tangle in storage.
Coil up the rope in large loops as shown.
26
Wrap the other end of the rope around
both the loop and the coil as shown.
29
Pass the working end through the end of
the loop.
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Farming Ahead July 2015 No. 282
Both ends of rope should be at the top of
the coil. Form a bight in one end of the
rope.
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27
Wrap another turn over the top of the
first turn, locking it in place.
30
Now pull tight on the other end of the
rope to lock the coils in place.
Now continue wrapping the rope tightly
around the loop and the coil, making at
least half a dozen turns.
31
The coil is complete.
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