Your Sunday Morning Jet Noise
4 hours ago
Friday, January 16, 2015
Taking it easy, and knots
I'm not doing to much except resting and getting better. I did make a trip to buy some racheting tie downs to replace the ones currently on the boat. Since one snapped, the others are probably due for replacement too. People lose stuff due to poor tie downs all the time.
In my travels I often see things like bungee cords lying in the road. It's tempting to stop and pick them up, but I don't. Think about it: it's lying in the road because it failed to do its job.
A self reliant independent person should have at least a basic knowledge of knots. Mastering even a half dozen knots will handle most of your tying and fastening needs. I first learned knots in the Boy Scouts. Do they even teach knots in the Boy Scouts anymore? Later, as a Firefighter, I learned more rope skills. Then I got into sailing and learned a few more useful knots.
It almost feels wrong to buy ratcheting straps than doing everything with rope. Still, those nylon straps are pretty strong, easy to use, and fast. Of course, when one did snap, it was replaced with a length of rope, which did the job for the next 1000 miles.
Learn a few knots, then treat yourself to a rigging knife with a marlin spike. They are pretty cheap, handy, and you'll feel like a real rope master. Nothing like having the right tools for the job.
I'm not even going to get into fids.
-Sixbears
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I've been a recent customer of Titan Straps, a synthetic 'bungee' with a reputation for OUTDOOR applications. I don't give them hard use, but am impressed with the quality of the items and expect a long life from them as well. Here is a link to the products.
ReplyDeletehttp://titanstraps.com/
No connection to company, just a satisfied customer. Hope this helps and get some rest !
I'll check them out.
Deleteknowing how to do knots is just important as selecting a brand of good rope
ReplyDeletetoo many times have seen clothsline and grannyknots at securing large loads to flatbeds and trailers
and in one recent idiot case.... duct tape
Wildflower
I never understood how someone would be fine securing an expensive item with cheap tiny rope.
Delete. . . duct tape? Sheesh . . . .
Glad to hear you're in rest / tinker mode, that is the best time you'll never waste.
ReplyDeleteBack in the farm days we tied all the hay bales on the trailer when we hauled them home to the barn. It's truy amazing what the humble rope can do.
I found a great little book called "All the knots you need" in a used book store. Reads like it came from another world, so much has been lost in the name of progress.
That said, I'm lazy enough to love my ratchets too!
I'll only use rope to time my canoes to a roof. Never trusted any of the special "systems" to do the job.
DeleteThat book did come from another world, the world of the not too distant past.
I've forgotten nearly all the knots I used to tie, so I think it's time I took a refresher course!
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised how quickly it would come back to you.
DeleteIF it is safe to stop (and that's a big if), I will always stop to pick up a bungee cord in the road... because one time I picked one up with my tire. That was NOT fun.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's clearing trash out of the road, not picking up something to reuse. Must have made a mess out of your tire.
Delete