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Nautical Rope Making & Knot Tying

Museum of Maritime Navigation and Communication

By Kate Farhat, Anika Thakkar, Dea Zenelaj, Michele Chahwan, Kristen Farhat

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How to Make a Rope - Materials

Thread/yarn

(cotton/bamboo material)

Board with a nail to secure thread in later steps

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How to Make a Rope - Steps

Cut 18 pieces of string
Separate strings into 3 groups
Make a knot at the top for each group
Use the nail to secure one group of strings
Twist each group of strings clockwise and secure the end with a knot
Then twist each group of strings with each other counterclockwise

Cut 18 pieces of string of equal length so your final product isn’t compromised by missing length.

You can use more or less than 18 pieces as long as the number is divisible by 3 so you can split into even groups of 3.

When separating the strings, each group should be equal and have 6 strings (In the case of using 18 pieces).

Make a knot at the top of each group of strings and use the knot to secure the strings onto the nail on your wooden board.

Begin to twist each group of strings, clockwise, one at a time until it is very tight and won’t fall apart. Then tie a small knot at the end. Then do the other two groups of string.

Once that is complete, twist the groups of three together in the opposite direction that they were twisted in individually (in this case, counter clockwise)

Secure the strings once again with a knot and your rope is complete.

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Types of Knots

Bowline

Overhand

Knot

Square Knot

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Types of Knots

Clove Hitch

Half Hitch

Figure 8

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Types of Knots

Cleat Hitch

Anchor Hitch

Marlinspike Hitch

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Ropes or Lines?

Rope: length of twisted fibers used to secure objects together often times through making knots

Line: a rope with a specific task, a job to perform on a boat

Such lines include anchor line, dock line, fender line

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Lines

Anchor Line

Dock Line

Mooring Line

Shore Line

Tow Line

Storm Lines

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Sources

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-Rope-nautical-Look/

https://www.101knots.com/category/sailing-knots

https://denverrope.com/boat-line-definitions-marine-application-guide/

https://www.boatingwithdawsons.com/blog/difference-rope-line/