The reef knot is used to join two ropes of equal thickness or to connect the two ends of the same rope. The knot holds well and is reliable, but it also has a drawback. Under heavier load it can tighten significantly, which makes it harder to untie later. For this reason, it is not the best choice for ropes that need to be untied frequently. Nevertheless, it is often used to extend towing and other ropes, for tying sails, and in many other practical situations. It is also known as the ambulance knot, or the reef knot.
How do we tie a reef knot?
- We take two ropes. Place the left rope over the right one and pull it underneath, forming the first simple knot.
- Then place the right rope over the left one and pull it underneath again, making sure to repeat the same movement as before.
- Finally, tighten both ends of the rope.
