🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <BzMIyF.HxH@news.iastate.edu>, wjturner@iastate.edu (William J Turner) writes:
>
>Not only that, but it can be very dangerous!  If the two ropes are not
>*EXACTLY* the same (in other words, the two ends of the same rope) the
>square knot *WILL* slip.  Therefore, about the only purpose it is
>specifically suited for is first-aid, where you may tie a bandage on
>a victim.  

Reef knots slip under a variety of circumstances, mostly related either to
different sized ends being knotted or uneven pull. Under load, a reef knot can
remove over 50% of the load-bearing strength of the lines tied together because
of the way force is opposed in the knot (I'm not a physicist, but this is what
I've seen printed in various books). 

Actaully, the main reason that a reef knot is tied on bandages is because it
makes it extremely easy to UNTIE the knot, especially with forceps - grab the
two bights of the knot and pull in opposite directions. Not that that makes much
difference to a surgeon with a pair of gauze scissors... :-).

As far as teaching knots is concerned, teach your Scouts in the same manner, and
with the same information, as is shown in their Handbooks (or whatever
literature they're using as a reference) so that if they need to look it up on
their own, the information won't confuse them by conflicting. You should only
conflict (and this is a personal opinion) is when there's a possible saftey
hazard, as with a load-bearing reef (square) knot.

I wonder if anyone's ever mentioned this problem to the people who churn out
handbooks (for the BSA, at least...)

Related to all this talk of knots, how many of you out there can tie both right-
and left-handed??? Just a curiousity... I've found it helps if you have to teach
a lefty knots, particularly things like the bowline and sheet bend.
----------------------------------------------------
Dennis J. Wilkinson, II  (pnsf01dw@umassd.edu)
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth - Design/CS Project

The opinions reflected in this post are MINE!!!! ALL MINE!!!!!