Obscure but useful knots

[Graham W]

There are three fairly obscure knots that I find useful:
1. Ashley stopper http://www.animatedknots.com/ashleystopper/index.php. Much better than the ubiquitous figure-of-eight for the end of sheets, as unlike the latter, it doesn't keep undoing itself.
2. Icicle hitch http://www.animatedknots.com/icicleend/index.php. This is a great knot for attaching one line to another when you need the first one to really grip the second and not slip. I use it when I need to attach a handy billy to put more tension into a halyard. Also for attaching lines to my shrouds for flying pennants.
3. Buntline hitch http://www.animatedknots.com/buntline/index.php. When you need to attach a line to a ring or shackle and it absolutely mustn't come undone, this is the one that I go for. It's quite difficult to undo again but I mostly use it for semi-permanent polyester attachments, like the top of my topping lift and the start of my shroud and bobstay strops.

Any others?

[Michael Rogers]

Hallo Graham
In passing, as it were (checking to see what I might have overlooked), I notice no-one has taken you up on knots. Tut-tut, everyone (including me). I'm surprised Tony hasn't had anything to say.

I agree with you about the buntline hitch, and I like its square rig origins and connotations. I don't know the other two and, in one of the spare moments I never seem to have these days, I'll give them a try.

I don't know whether the constrictor knot is 'obscure' (I haven't looked, but I'm sure Animated Knots cover it). I use it sometimes. When you look at its structure, its elegant simplicity is astonishing, and it's the only knot I know which really can't be untied. Don't believe it? - I challenge you!

To one and all, Happy (and safe) Sailing in 2018.

[markbatey]

Seeing as everyone is hibernating at the moment it seems, I thought I'd come back to this with a way of tying a bowline that you proper seamen all know, but I didn't until recently. Forget the "rabbit down the hole" technique, this is so much cooler and quicker. This is the best video I can find of how it works...

https://youtu.be/ozskWrDM-F4

M