Knots & Rigging

Five Essential Sailing Knots

Bowline, figure-eight, cleat hitch, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches — the short list that covers 90 percent of on-board needs.

Dmitry Shteyn
Dmitry ShteynWisconsin, USA · Jun 21, 2026 · 5 min read

The short list

Sailors tie a lot of knots, but five cover roughly 90% of on-board needs. Learn these cold — meaning you can tie them with your eyes closed, in the dark, with cold fingers.

1. Bowline

The bowline forms a fixed loop at the end of a line that does not slip and does not jam. It is the knot for attaching sheets to a sail, tying a line around a piling, or making a loop for any reason. Memorize "the rabbit comes out of the hole, around the tree, and back into the hole."

2. Figure-eight

The figure-eight is a stopper knot tied at the end of a sheet or halyard to prevent it from running out through a block. Without a stopper knot, lines can pull through and leave your sail flogging uncontrollably.

3. Cleat hitch

The cleat hitch secures a dock line to a cleat. The pattern is: round turn around the base, a figure-eight over the horns, then a locking hitch. Do not just wrap the line around — wraps without the locking hitch can shake free.

4. Clove hitch

The clove hitch attaches a line to a rail, stanchion, or piling. It's quick and easy to adjust, but it can slip under load — use it for fenders, not for anything you'd hate to lose.

5. Round turn and two half hitches

A secure way to attach a line to a piling, ring, or post. The round turn carries the load while the half hitches lock the knot. This is what you use to tie up to a piling when no cleat is available.

How to practice

Tie each knot 50 times. Then tie it with your eyes closed. Then tie it underwater. Speed and reliability matter more than knowing fancy knots.

Takeaways

  • Bowline, figure-eight, cleat hitch, clove hitch, round turn + two half hitches.
  • Practice until you can tie them without looking.
  • Five reliable knots beat fifty unreliable ones.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the bowline so important?
Because it makes a fixed loop that doesn't slip under load and doesn't jam after being loaded. Sailors use it for sheet-to-sail connections, dock lines, and anywhere you need a reliable loop.
Is the clove hitch safe for dock lines?
No. The clove hitch can slip under variable load, especially when the line is wet. Use a cleat hitch on a cleat or a round turn and two half hitches on a piling.