Sheet Bend Details
Uses: The Sheet Bend (ABOK # 1431, p 262) is recommended for joining two ropes of unequal size. The thicker rope must be used for the simple bight as shown. It works equally well if the ropes are of the same size.
Becket Hitch: The Becket Hitch is a very similar knot. However, it is a "Hitch": it does not join two ropes, it attaches a rope to a Becket (a rope handle or an eye). In the picture above the Blue Rope would be Becket and the Red Rope would be tied to it with a Becket Hitch.
The Sheet Bend would replace the Square (Reef) knot except for the awkward fact that it is not a binding knot – it has to be tied with both ends loose in your hands with no load on the ropes (The Square Knot - with all its faults - can be tied tight against a sail, or parcel, and usually stays tight while the second Half Hitch is tied).
Double Sheet Bend: When the ropes are markedly different in size, the tail of the smaller rope can be taken twice round the bight in the larger rope to create the double sheet bend.
Structure: When correctly tied the two tails lie on the same side of the knot. The alternative version - with the tails on opposite sides - is less reliable.
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