Scouting Usage (Merit Badges etc, below)

Alpine Butterfly Loop Barrel Hitch Bowline Clove Hitch (Half Hitches) Common Whipping Constrictor (Twisting) Cow Hitch Double Fisherman's Double O'hand Stopper Eye Splice Figure 8 Half Hitch Lashing, Square Lashing, Diagonal Lashing, Round Lashing, Shear Lashing, Tripod Rolling Hitch Round Turn & Hitches Sheet Bend Sheepshank Square (Reef) Timber Hitch Trucker's Hitch

Find a Knot by Name Knot Terminology Knot & Rope Safety Rope Properties iPhone App Contact

Instructions: Move the mouse over the list of Descriptions. Each one corresponds to a knot. Click on the knot you wish to see. On the new page wait until the knot you chose starts to tie itself.

Joining Ends of Two Ropes

Stop a Rope's End Unraveling

Make a Loop in a Piece of Rope

Tow a Log or Spar

Attach rope temporarily to a spar or log

Lashings

Slide and Grip Knots

Secure a Tarpaulin

Tighten a tarpaulin with a 3:1 purchase

Stopper Knot

Reliable stopper knot in rope end

Shorten a Rope

Reduces rope's length (unreliable)

Select the Use You Need

The list above provides you with some of the uses you are likely to need while scouting. Visualize what you would like to do. Move the mouse over the items. Read the description. Click on the item you decide best meets your needs.

Merit Badges and Advancement Requirements

Knots Required by Scouting Organizations

Some national organizations specify detailed requirements for advancement and for various activities. These lists change with time and some are overdue for revision because they contain errors or knots of almost no value.

Other countries describe projects and activities that involve using knots, but provide no specified lists. The lists below were compiled from data on websites in the US and UK:

Required Knots, US

From www.USScouts.org (effective January 1, 2010):

Boy Scout Joining Requirement: Square Knot
Tenderfoot: Two Half Hitches, Taut-Line Hitch
First Class: Timber Hitch, Clove Hitch, Square Lashing, Shear Lashing, Diagonal Lashing.

Merit Badge Knots, US

Thanks to Matt Sorensen who helped me compile this this list from www.scouting.org:

Climbing Merit Badge: Double Fisherman's Knot (Grapevine Knot), Figure Eight on a Bight,
Figure Eight Follow-Through, Safety knot, Water knot.
Fishing Merit Badge: Blood Loop (Barrel Knot), Clinch, Double Surgeon's Loop, Palomar,
Turle (not included as it is one of the weakest knots).
Pioneering Merit Badge: Bowline, Round Turn with Two Half Hitches, Sheepshank (included regretfully),
Sheet Bend, Square knot.
Rowing Merit Badge: Bowline, Clove Hitch, Round Turn with Two Half-Hitches,
Mooring Hitch (not included as it is not a secure knot),
Wellman's Knot (not included as the knot appears to be unknown).
Small Boat Sailing Merit Badge: Bowline, Cleat Hitch, Clove Hitch, Figure Eight Knot, Square (Reef) Knot, Two Half Hitches.

Merit Badge Knots, UK

This list was compiled from scouts.org.uk:

Basic Nautical Skills: Clove Hitch, Figure Eight Knot, Round Turn and Two Half Hitches.

Nautical Skills: Back Splice, Cleat Hitch, Eye Splice,
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches. Sailmaker's Whipping.

Advanced Nautical Skills: Bowline, Clove Hitch, Decorative Knot, Figure Eight Knot, Rolling Hitch,
Round Turn and Two Half Hitches. Sheet bend,

Pioneer Activity: Coil Rope, Splice, Whipping,
Outdoor Construction requiring Lashings, e.g., Diagonal, Round, Shear, Square, Tripod.

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.