The history and uses of the carrick bend

History:

The symmetrical layout of the carrick bend, with eight crossing points, yields several different knots, depending on what goes over and under where. For this reason , some very unreliable knots have been misleadingly labelled carrick bends. the true carrick bend was named by M. Lescallier in Vocabulaire des Termes de marine (1783) and featured by Felix Reisenberg in Seamanship for the Merchant Service (1922). The name 'carrick' may come from medieval trading ships called carracks.

Uses: 

This is a bend for joining larger ropes and cables. Although often assumed to be strong, it is in fact only about 65% efficient.

Method : 

Weave the ropes over and under (1-2). Arrange the layout so that the working ends emerge on opposite sides of the knot. Pull the knot tight, capsizing it into its stable working form(3).The version with both short ends on the same side (4) may be less secure and so is not recommended as a bend. (However, it is a crucial knot for students of mathematical knot theory) Bring the working end around to re-enter the knot (5), doubling and trebling the lead, to make a decorative Turk's head mat or bracelet.

For more information visit 

http://watercraft.wonderhowto.com/how-to/tie-carrick-bend-knot-266564/

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/carrick-bend/

http://web.comhem.se/~u77479609/Carrick%20Bend.html

The history and uses of the reef knot

History:

The reef knot is at least between 4,000 and 9,000 years old. The name "reef knot" dates from at least 1794 and originates from its common use to reef sails,that is to tie part of the sail down to decrease its effective surface area in strong winds. To release the knot a sailor could collapse it with a pull of one hand; the sail's weight would make the collapsed knot come apart. It is specifically this behavior which makes the knot unsafe for connecting two ropes together.

The name "square knot" is found in Dana's 1841 maritime compendium A Seaman's Friend, which also gives "reef knot" as an alternate name.

Uses:

The reef knot is used to tie the two ends of a single line together such that they will secure something, for example a bundle of objects, that is unlikely to move much. In addition to being used by sailors for reefing and furling sails, it is also one of the key knots of macrametextiles.

The knot lies flat when made with cloth and has been used for tying bandages for millennia. As a binding knot it was known to the ancient greeks as the Hercules knot (Herakleotikon hamma) and is still used extensively in medicine. In his Natural History, Plinyrelates the belief that wounds heal more quickly when bound with a "Hercules knot".

It has also been used since ancient times to tie belts and sashes. 

With both ends tucked (slipped) it becomes a good way to tie shoelaces, whilst the non-slipped version is useful for shoelaces that are excessively short. It is appropriate for tying plastic garbage or trash bags, as the knot forms a handle when tied in two twisted edges of the bag.

The reef knot figures prominently in Scoutong worldwide. It is included in the international membership badge and many scouting awards. In the Boy Scouts of America demonstrating the proper tying of the square knot is a requirement for all boys joining the program.


for more information visit: 
http://www.wikihow.com/Tie-a-Reef-Knot
http://www.realknots.com/knots/reefk.htm
http://www.animatedknots.com/reef/index.php

The history of uses of the bowline knot

History:

 The Bowline was used on tall ships during the "Age of Sail" to attach a square sail to the yardarm. Another spelling for the Bowline is "Bow Line" because it may have been used to hold the windward, bow facing, side of the sail. The Bowline was first mentioned in 1627 by John Smith in A Seaman's Grammar under the name "Boling Knot". The Bowline may have been around much longer than the Age of Sail and even existed in ancient Egypt. A knot similar to the Bowline was found when Egyptian ships were excavated and the rigging was examined.

How to Make a Bowline: The method for making a Bowline is easy to remember by using the mnemonic "A rabbit comes out of the hole, around the tree, and back into the hole".

1- Create an underhand bight in the line leaving a generous amount for the working end 

2- Bring the end up through the loop created by the bight
3- Behind and around the standing part of the line
4- Then back down through the loop
5- Tighten the knot by pulling on the end, standing part, and loop

Uses: The Bowline is a versatile knot and can be used for a number of tasks including:

1- Attaching a jib sheet at the clew. (This is the place you will usually find a Bowline on a sailboat.)
2- As the knot on the end of a halyard to hoist an object or sail as needed.
3- Creatively as a slip knot; since the loop at the end of the line is fixed.

Bowline Variations: The Bowline has a number of variations that work well in different scenarios, but maintain the original Bowline structure. One variation is the Running Bowline, which is basically a slip knot created by passing the standing part of the rope through the fixed Bowline loop. The result is a slip knot that can be used to retrieve items when they fall overboard, hold items tightly together, or used in running rigging. 

For more information visit: 
http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/
http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/bowline/
http://sailing.about.com/od/learntosail/ss/howtobowline.htm