Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Recreation/Knot Tying

1. Define the following terms
It's a good idea to begin this honor with the definitions so your Pathfinders have a working vocabulary of the various terms involved. Telling them to "make a bight" or "take the standing part" makes little sense until these terms are understood.
 * a. Bight: The term bight refers to any curved section, slack part, or loop between the two ends of a rope.
 * b. Running end: Also called the working end, it is the free end of the rope. This is the end of the rope in which a knot is being tied.
 * c. Standing part: The part of the rope between the Running end and the Standing end (the end that doesn't move, think of it as if someone is holding it)
 * d. Underhand loop: A loop formed by passing the running end of a line under the standing part.
 * e. Overhand loop: A loop formed by passing the running end of a line over the standing part.
 * f. Turn:
 * g. Bend: A bend is used to tie two ropes together, as in the Sheetbend. Technically, even the Reef knot is a bend
 * h. Hitch: A hitch is used to tie a rope to a spar, ring or post, such as the Clove hitch. Hitches can also be used to tie one rope ONTO another rope, as in the Rolling hitch.
 * i. Splice: A knot formed by interweaving strands of rope rather than whole lines. More time consuming but usually stronger than simple knots.
 * j. Whipping: A binding knot used to prevent another line from fray.

2. Know how to care for rope.

 * a. Keep the rope clean.
 * b. Always coil a rope before storing it.
 * c. Make sure wet rope is dry before coiling it.
 * d. Return rope to its proper place after using it.

3. Describe the difference between laid rope and braided rope and list three uses of each.
In laid rope, three bundles of fiber or twine are twisted in the same direction, placed close to each other, and allowed to twist together. In braided rope, the fibers are woven together, often around some core material.

Uses of Laid Rope
.
 * 1) Repels water
 * 2) Able to withstand immense strain.
 * 3) Can be spliced with standard techniques

Uses of Braided Rope

 * 1) Works well with pulleys and rigging.
 * 2) Spinning (lariats and lassos).
 * 3) Decorative knots.

4. Identify the following types of rope

 * a. Manila: Manila is a type of fiber obtained from the leaves of the abacá (Musa textilis), a relative of the banana. It is mostly used to make ropes and it is one of the most durable of the natural fibers, besides true hemp. Manila is a coarse, brown fiber, about the same color and feel as a coconut shell.
 * b. Sisal: Sisal is valued for cordage use because of its strength, durability, ability to stretch, affinity for certain dyestuffs, and resistance to deterioration in saltwater. Sisal ropes and twines are widely employed for marine, agricultural (bailing twine), and general industrial use. Sisal fibers are smooth, straight and yellow and can be long or short.
 * c. Nylon: Nylon rope is often white, but any color is possible. It has a smooth, silky feeling to it, and it coils easily.  Nylon rope does not float in water.  It is a synthetic-fiber rope.
 * d. Polypropylene: Polypropylene rope is most often yellow, though any color is possible. It is often used in marine applications because it floats in water.  The rope is sometimes difficult to tie as it is somewhat stiff and brittle.  It is a synthetic-fiber rope.

The easiest way to make an initial identification of a rope is to visit a hardware store where rope is sold. The packaging will tell you what the rope is made of. If you want to be sure, buy some of each type (with the labeling) or examine it closely in the store.

Advantages

 * Improved abrasion-resistance
 * Better UV-resistance
 * Lighter
 * Length does not vary as much when wet
 * Rot-resistant

Disadvantages

 * Some synthetics do not hold knots well
 * More slippery
 * Melts when heated
 * Stretches more than natural ropes.

a. Splice
A splice is used to join the ends of two ropes and results in the spliced part being about twice as thick as the non spliced part. The short splice retains more of the rope strength than any knots that join rope ends. It is tied using the same techniques as the eye splice (see below).
 * Short splice animated

c. Back splice
A back splice (also called an end splice) is a splice where the strands of the end of the rope are spliced directly back into the end without forming a loop. It is used to finish off the end of the rope to keep it from fraying. The end of the rope with the splice is about twice the thickness of the rest of the rope. Begin by unraveling the strands, and tie a crown knot. Then begin splicing the rope onto itself as with the short splice.

Figure eight
The fisherman's knot is a bend (a knot for joining two lines) with a symmetrical structure consisting of two overhand knots, each tied around the standing part of the other. Other names for the fisherman's knot include: angler's knot, English knot, halibut knot, waterman's knot.

Square knot
It is used for the Basic Rescue. ( See basic rescue honor)