Standard copyrights and disclaimer.
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Following knots were asked for very often last year. For frequently asked questions on
knots also try: rec.crafts.knots
FAQ
This page is more or less made to publish these "FAQ-knots" so I can add them in
the knot index.
The Monkey Fist is used
as an end knot for a heaving line. A heaving line is a line used for throwing from one
location to another. This enables a larger line that could not be thrown over the distance
to be pulled over. The most common use of a heaving line is at sea, to pull a cable to
shore from a ship. A cable is not easily thrown over a distance of 10m [ ft]or more, so
instead one throws a heaving line. The line is tied to the cable and when it has been
received the cable can then be pulled over. To make it easier to throw one needs to
connect a weight on the end of the line - usually a stone, lead-ball or a small bag of
sand is connected to the end. Better still a small rope ball is tied on the end. It is
neat, it will endure many tosses last long and it is easily thrown. That is what the
monkey fist is was originally used for. Now it is also used as fancy knot for key-rings,
necklaces and so on. The knot can be done with or without a central core (i.e. a round
stone or ball bearing) to add extra weight but it is recommended to use extra loops
depending on the size of the object.
The instruction drawing is made by Hervey Garrett Smith and copied from the dutch
translation of his book "The Marlinespike
Sailor". I got permission of "International Marine/Ragged Mountain
Press" to use the instruction drawing on my site.
(I got 3 to 5 requests a week for this knot. That is why I am sure it is most wanted.)
This is probably the most
famous truckers knot. I never realized it was so wanted. I got 2 to 4 requests per month
for it.
You need to hook in the cross marked place. The force F you apply at the loose end is multiplied by (almost) 3 on the standing part. You may say it is only a rope tackle. Beware, it wears out your precious rope fast, so if you use it often it is wise to use a form of protection in the bight where the loose end is pulled through. A folded paper will do, a smooth piece of leather is much better.
I do not have experience with this knot myself. But I have been told it
will hold as long as the force is applied. And because that is also the case with its
closest relative, the sheep shank, I think it will.
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Any comment, suggestions, anything mail me:
 qqqq at realknots.com with subject "question"
All mail without thr right subject is flussed unred. automaticly. I am sorry I had to remove the mail link. The mailgrabbers and spammers won. But.... I have a few hidden mail address for them to mail to each other after they grabbed it. 
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