Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (41 page)
Read Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual Online
Authors: Survival/Camping
Tie 7 Helpful Knots
So you’ve mastered the basic knots, or you grew up on a hauler and can’t remember a time you didn’t know them. Time to focus on a few more sophisticated knots so you’ll be armed with the know-how for any job that might come up.
Whether you’re joining two materials that don’t want to be joined or adding a new segment to an existing line, these seven knots will serve you well. See items 65 and 315 for more knots that can help you survive a wide range of situations.
SHEET BEND
This one is a little weird, but nothing works better for tying different types of material together and joining different thicknesses. This knot even joins together lines or materials that normally couldn’t be joined together.
HOW TO TIE
Start by bending the thicker or more slippery rope into a J shape (like a fish hook). You then pass the other rope through the fish hook from behind, wrap around the entire fish hook once, and then tuck the smaller line under itself.
BLOOD KNOT
This little gem of a knot is used on fishing line to secure two lines together. It can mend a broken line or attach leaders and tippets.
HOW TO TIE
Overlap the two lines and wrap one free end around the other line five or six times. Pass the free end between the two lines. Wrap the other line the same number of times, and tuck the free end between the two lines in the opposite direction of the other free end. If using fishing line, add saliva to reduce friction damage.
TAUT LINE HITCH
This hitch takes the place of a slide to tighten or loosen a loop in a line (like a tent guyline). This knot grips well as long as there’s tension on the taut side of the loop.
HOW TO TIE
Create a loop by wrapping around something like a tent stake. With the free end of the rope, wrap toward the stake twice. Then wrap the free end over everything, toward you one time around the rope, and cinch these wraps tight. Pull on the standing line and the hitch should grip the loaded line.
MAN HARNESS
This crafty knot puts a loop in a line when neither end of the line is free. This one is great in a wide range of possible situations.
HOW TO TIE
Once you have a little slack, make a loop so that part of the line runs through the middle of the loop. Grab the side of the loop and pull it through the gap between the line in the middle and the other side of the loop. Pull the new loop tight, then pull the line to cinch. This one can slip without constant tension on the loop.
ROLLING HITCH
This hitch uses the basic knot behind a taut-line hitch to add a leg to any existing line. This was often used historically to hook more dogs to a dogsled main line.
HOW TO TIE
Wrap the free end of one rope around the main rope to create a half hitch. Make a second half hitch and then wrap over the entire knot—finishing it off with a final half hitch to the other side from your starting place.
CARRICK BEND
This alternate to a square knot joins two ropes together securely and is easier to untie.
HOW TO TIE
Form a loop with the free end of one rope. Pass the other rope’s end under the first loop, then over, then under, as seen in the picture. Thread the free end across the loop passing under itself, and pull the ends.
PRUSIK KNOT
This knot creates a loop that can be used as an ascender or descender. This slide-and-grip knot can be handy for adding a loop to a rope when neither end is free.
HOW TO TIE
Take a short rope and a separate long rope. Tie a loop in the short rope with a solid knot. Wrap the loop around the long rope three times, so each wrap lies flat against the long rope. Pass the loop of short rope under itself and tighten. If there’s weight on the loop, the prusik will grip the long rope. Slide up or down by taking the weight off the loop and pushing the wraps.
Improvise a Solar Lightbulb
If you have a garage, shelter, shed, or outbuilding that could use some light and you don’t have a way to provide electricity, you can channel the sun instead. This idea was originally pioneered in shanty towns that lacked utilities, but it can be put to use anywhere sunny.
YOU’LL NEED
Roofing material to match your structure (aluminum siding, plastic panel, etc.)
2-liter plastic water or soda bottle
1 tablespoon (15 ml) bleach
Heavy-duty weatherproof caulking or sealant
STEP 1
Cut a 1-foot (0.3-m) square of your roofing material, then measure and cut a hole in its center to match the widest part of your plastic bottle. You can also cut a slightly smaller hole, then trim its edges to fold down into little flaps to help support the weight of the bottle.
STEP 2
Fill your bottle near to the brim with water, and add bleach. Close its cap and cover its edges with sealant.
STEP 3
Slide the bottle through the hole in the roofing material, about halfway, with its top facing up. Add more sealant around both sides of the panel and allow it to dry to anchor the bottle in place.
STEP 4
Find a place on the roof of your structure where the light will be cast most widely inside. Mark and cut a hole large enough for the bottle’s widest point.
STEP 5
Apply more sealant around the hole, and slide the bottle through, pressing the panel firmly into place to seal thoroughly. Add more sealant to weatherproof. You now have the equivalent of a 60-watt lightbulb.
