Reef Knot

The reef knot is very easy to tie. It's just 2 overhand knots tied in the opposite way. If you tie both knots in the same way you end up with a granny knot that is good for absolutely nothing except not holding!

Tying a Reef Knot

The only use I have for a reef knot is for tying reefs in my sail. That's how it pays the rent on my boat. It's not reliable and tends to slip, so you can't depend on it to stay put. It's a pretty knot and it's easy to take apart.

Because it's so easy to tie it's tempting to use it, but IT IS UNRELIABLE, I have to remind myself to use the proper knot instead of a reef knot when not reefing.

Some of my Knot Pages

• The Anchor Bend Knot
• Bowline, The Must Know Knot
• Bowline on a bight, how to tie a bowline if you don't have the ends.
• Double Bowline, is more secure and thicker than a traditional bowline
• Cleat Hitch It's surprising how many people can't tie this knot properly
• Constrictor Knots make it a point of being difficult to untie. It's their job!
• Highwayman's Hitch makes it a point of being easy to untie, good for a quick hitch at the dock or where you need to get it undone fast
• Reef Knots are used to reef sails, otherwise they are very unreliable.
• Rolling Hitch A useful knot that can be tied on another line to pull some slack so you can untie a knot or untangle a winch line.
• Sheet Bend joins 2 ropes together
• The Stopper Knot stops a knot from running out of a cleat. 2 styles
• Truckers Hitch helps tighten a rope around a canoe on a car or on a trailer.
• Farmer's Loop Similar to the Trucker's hitch, easy to tie.
• Round Turn and two half hitches a useful multipurpose knot
• The Fireman's coil keeps your coiled rope from getting tangled.
• Buntline Hitch, a very old knot that has found a new life with modern slippery rope