Carrick Bend

Animation: Carrick Bend Tying

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Carrick Bend Tying

With one rope (blue) form a loop with the tail under the standing end. Pass the other rope (red) under the blue loop and then over and then under as shown. Thread the tail (red) across the loop passing under itself. Then pull both standing ends to tighten the knot.

Carrick Bend Details

Uses: The Carrick Bend (ABOK # 1439, p 263) joins two ropes together. Ashley describes it as "the bend commonly tied in hawsers and cables." It is also makes the center of the very decorative Lanyard Knot.

Structure: The knot curls up under strain and the attractive, mat-like appearance vanishes. It is important that the tails lie diagonally opposite each other; if tied incorrectly, an intermittent pull will gradually work the knot towards the tails until it is undone!

Place: Because the Carrick Bend is reliable and has the enormous advantage of being easy to undo, it probably deserves to be used more often. However, it is slightly awkward to assemble and it is easy to make a mistake: you can have both tails on the same side of the knot; or one of the crossings may be incorrect. These other versions of this knot perform far less well.

Knots for Net Making

Making a Cargo Net: Making a Cargo Net is tedious, time-consuming, and only to be undertaken out of necessity or by the enthusiast. The photograph shows the two knots usually used at each junction in the net. The Carrick Bend has been used in the upper row and the Sheet Bend has been used in the lower row.

Compare: The Carrick should be compared to the Alpine Butterfly Bend. They are both excellent bends composed of interlocking loops, and both remain easy to untie after a heavy load.

Disclaimer: Any activity that involves ropes is potentially hazardous. Lives may be at risk - possibly your own. Considerable attention and effort have been made to ensure that these descriptions are accurate. However, many critical factors cannot be controlled, including: the choice of materials; the age, size, and condition of ropes; and the accuracy with which these descriptions have been followed. No responsibility is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.

TIE KNOTS THE FUN AND EASY WAY

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Carrick Bend Tying

Carrick Bend Details

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