What knot to use? That’s often a very good question.
Maybe you need to tightly lash down supplies and stores prior to heading out to sea on a coastwise run, or hoist a drum of lube oil from the back deck up to the barge you tow. Perhaps your to-do list includes making up some new heaving lines with neatly finished bitter ends. Who hasn’t used or heard the old saying, “If you can’t tie a knot, tie a lot”? The truth is that it’s gotten people through many situations on a regular basis, although in an ugly and very un-seamanlike manner. Often, when it’s all over, a knife must be used to cut the handiwork apart and the line is wasted. This way of doing things is for hacks. Real seafarers need mad skills.
The practice of the practical art of marlinspike seamanship requires many things, including a solid and broad knowledge of many knots and splices, their strengths and weaknesses, and their most appropriate uses. On the most modern vessels, they’re used infrequently, but can nonetheless still be vital when they are truly needed. Stuff happens. So assuming you weren’t mentored by Sinbad and have stayed in practice, you need something to refer to and brush up with before the knife comes out. You need a book.
There are many choices, and keeping at least one book on your vessel as a reference for the whole crew is important. It’s unrealistic to expect the crew to acquire and maintain the skills to perform well when needed without such a reference book, especially when seldom-used but critical knots are required.
My new favorite book is “What Knot?” by Geoffrey Budworth and Richard Hopkins. As the title suggests, it's primarily about knots, although whippings and seizings are also covered, as well as basic 3-strand splicing. It’s lavishly illustrated with sharp, clear color photos, and it covers everything you are ever likely to need outside of splicing eyes in 8- or 12-strand line. One of these books should be on every galley table.
