[Title]  [text TOC]  [image TOC]  [Site Search]    [Donation] 

	Knot Board

Webelos Knot Board



Boy Scout Knot Board

Use thin wire of different colors, dowel rod, and metal hooks to demonstrate the use of the knots. The Webelos board is 3" x 2.5", the Boy Scout board is 4" x 2.25". Before tying the knots, decide how they will be mounted on the foam. If you plan to glue them to the foam (like the Webelos board), you don't need much spare wire on each end. The other method of attaching the knots to the foam is to poke one or both ends through the foam and twist them together on the backside (like the Boy Scout board). Don't pull the knots too tight. If they are loose and neat, it is easier to see how they are tied. Use wire cutters to trim off any excess wire.

Print the names of the knots on paper using a computer. They are 10-point font in the photos above. Cut them out and use a little white glue to attach them to the foam.

Hot glue a PVC "D" ring to the back to turn it into a slide.

Knots should be taught early and practiced frequently. Learn what each knot is used for. Choosing the right knot makes the knot work for you. The wrong knot in the wrong situation won't do the job. It may not hold tight or it could even come loose causing you to lose something or your tent to fall down.

Learn to tie them correctly and make them look tidy. A neat knot will hold better and it will be easier to tell that it has been tied correctly.

Below is a list of common knots. They are listed roughly in order of difficulty and usefulness. Children as young as six should be able to tie the first three and by age twelve they should be able to master all the knots listed.

There is a great web site for teaching most of the knots in the list. It is Al Folsom's Knot Page. He has animated the tying process. It shows how to tie each knot and is very easy to follow.

• Overhand Knot - used to loosely secure a bag or rope
• Figure 8 Knot - this is a strong knot, it won't slip, climbers use it
• Square Knot - used for tying two ropes together and in first aid
• Clove Hitch - will hold tight when pulled, is easily untied, and used in lashing
• Two Half Hitches - used for tent guy lines, clothesline, will slide to adjust
• Bowline - won't slip, sometimes called the rescue knot
• Taut-Line Hitch - used for tent guy lines, clothesline, will slide but hold fast
• Sheet Bend - used to tie a rope to the corner of tarp or ropes of different sizes
• Timber Hitch - used for tying around log to drag it, easily untied

Another good resource suggested to me by Ms. Barnes is A Scout's Guide to Boating Knots.

Another good resource suggested to me by Sean is Rope- and Knot- Tying for Beginners.

Knots are easiest to tie using 1/4 to 1/2 inch rope. Learn how to tie a knot and practice it frequently. Once you have mastered the knots, work on a knot board.