Three Knots for Whitewater Rafting | Ep. 56

In the 56th episode of Gear Garage, Zach discusses three important knots for whitewater rafting: the bowline, figure 8 on a bight, and the water knot.
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[@absoluteelectricandmainten7432]

Thank you so much again! These are great. I really appreciate the water knot. Too, I have never done the Bowline with a bite. Very cool. As a thought, the bowline knot has long been considered a rescue knot. It can be tied one-handed while the rope is around a torso, under the arms. The great thing about the bowline is it doesn’t cinch up. It won’t constrict around torso in a situation where they need to be lifted/rescued. I continue to look forward to your future videos!

[@willybumbum6682]

The entire figure 8 family is great, wonderful, standard of knots right? Right. One small nuance is that when it 'takes a heavy load' it can really cinch down and become hard to un-tie... Enter the 'figure 10'... essentialy the same knot, with an extra wrap that does not lock up under heavy pressure. Great in mechanical advantage systems

[@ScottWalkerScEdD]

Old Eagle Scout here...I often use square knots and a double half hitch. The three you presented are good to have in your repertoire. The bowline being the one that needs the most practice to do fast and correct.

[@thatsapaddlin828]

In my canoe i use two knots; taut line hitches for the airbag lacing and over hand knots on a bight for the grab loops and to attach end lines to the grab loops. I also like your knot choices and I know them well.

[@GearGarageTV]

I love the taught line hitch!

[@jeremystrawn6872]

Just ordered River Journeys on your recommendation. I’m a newbie and have been really enjoying all your informative videos! Thank you!

[@GearGarageTV]

Enjoy!

[@adamvolwiler7336]

Although not technically knots the Clove Hitch, Munter and Prussic are very useful in a bunch of rescue scenarios. I've used them extensively in building rescue anchors for climbing and rafting. I haven't made it through all your videos so if you already covered them I apologize.

[@GearGarageTV]

Yep those are great knots too. If you were to know just 3 knots what would they be?

[@davescott8352]

I think the clove hitch is the most common “knot” I use. If limited to (3) I keep the 8, clove, & fisherman. The bowline & butterfly would be close behind.

[@NatePurcellVideo]

Love it!!

[@barrettheywood7826]

I'm a fan of the alpine butterfly for tying off multiple boats off single line an anchor.

[@GearGarageTV]

Barrett Heywood yes that’s a great knot for a lot of things. Unfortunately it’s hard for most people to remember.

[@riverguide..Uttarakhandvale]

Thanks

[@davejarand4361]

Slippery bowline or slip bowline. We use the running bowline a lot as arborists

[@christophermalone4985]

There is the way to make the figure 8 knot go around something And tie back into itself.... I'd be happy to show you

[@GearGarageTV]

Yes there is a way to tie that knot (Figure 8 Followthrough) but we don't use it very often for rafting

[@mattoconnor7114]

I tie my bowline going around "jonny" the other way. This way I can tie it with 1 hand. If you cross the end of the line 90 degrees to the line from the boat or whatever tip your wrist down, then turn up while pointing at yourself. The pond is made now and the shark is out of the pond. All that's left is pushing it around Jonny and back in the pond. Yours is fine, still a bowline. Looked awkward to me going around in that direction. Are you possibly a south paw?

[@jeremyfree2fish586]

Hey there new to rafting doing mostly fishing but would like to get into whitewater stuff when my kids are good swimmers just curious about the rescue word you are throwing around is that something that happens often on whitewater trips and if it does I suppose running with a group is the way to do it huh?

[@GearGarageTV]

I have no idea what you are asking

[@jeremyfree2fish586]

@@GearGarageTV im sorry I should have been more clear i understand that rescue is certainly part of white water i guess im Curious if it is common, people getting in bad spots and needing help is it 10 out of ten or lower percent in your experiance?

[@GearGarageTV]

@@jeremyfree2fish586 Yes whitewater can be dangerous and rescues are sometimes required. I strongly believe that you should run with others.

[@SportCampTirol]

The clove hitch?? The most useful knot for anchoring boats. Quick, easy and most importantly adjustable. Used by boat crews and climbers all over the world.

[@GearGarageTV]

The clove hitch is a great knot but rarely used by whitewater rafters.

[@SportCampTirol]

@@GearGarageTV Hmmm, Ive been a professional raft guide, instructor and examiner for over 30 years. It may be rarely used in your local area but its an essential knot and used extensively (opposite of rarely) throughout the world. It is taught in all IRF courses worldwide and if you don't know it you will instantly fail your IRF examination.

[@SportCampTirol]

@@GearGarageTV The double figure of eight can easily be threaded through a D ring and tied without a carabinier?? This is also an IRF examination criteria. Also the loop on the end of it should only have enough space for 1 maximum 2 carabiniers too pass through.

[@GearGarageTV]

@@SportCampTirol First of all, the aim of this video is for private boaters and not professional guides. When we teach private boaters we try to minimize the number of knots they learn so they can master the ones we teach them. If you teach too many knots to people who don't use them often will likely forget them. By focusing on just 3 knots we find they remember these better. I have guided quite a bit outside my "local area" and rarely see guides using a clove hitch. We use them to tie tarps to the top of oars on overnight trips and in some rescue situations where the are nice to use but there are also other alternatives. Finally, I teach IRF courses and don't remember seeing anything in the ropework section of the guide assessments that requires tying a clove hitch to pass. Maybe you can point that out to me. I understand that it is part of the Guide Training Program minimum content but it is not part of the guide assessment. To sum this up, I certainly value the clove hitch and use the clove hitch but don't teach it to the average (non professional) boater that this video was made for.

[@GearGarageTV]

@@SportCampTirol p.s. I looked for your name as an IRF instructor and/or guide and don't see you listed as either. You might want to the let the IRF know.

[@suzannesimmons9603]

The explanation is great but so lacking in the actual looping of the rope...can't really see it...not good visual at all😮