The Morrow Guide to Knots: for Sailing, Fishing, Camping, Climbing
by Guido Regazzoni, Mario Bigon
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Book Reviews of The Morrow Guide to Knots: for Sailing, Fishing, Camping, Climbing
Book Review: Excellent general knot book for climbing, hiking, & sailing
Summary: 5 Stars
Like many people, I just want to learn to tie a dozen or so knots that will be useful to know in particular situations. I do a lot of hiking and I own horses, so getting to know some good knots beside the "double granny" would be a useful thing. I first checked my university library and checked out several books including Ashley and Eric Fry among others. Ashley is a great book but a bit too much information and not the book for learning HOW to tie knots. Fry's book is similar to the format of this book, but a good majority of the "knots" are actually splices and eyes (unwinding fiber rope to form an eye onto itself or splicing 2 lines together) and decorative-type knots for macrame - neither thing I need to know right now.The Morrow book is a good, general knot book for climbing, camping and sailing. Often there are several different ways shown to tie the same knot depending on the situation (line under strain, two handed, one handed, around a post, dropped on a post) or differently by another method. Illustrations are step-by-step and easy to follow with color coded rope. Inexplicably, some knots are shown tied with green and red rope, so color-blind people beware. Also, upon preliminary examination I noted that the tautline hitch (invaluable to keep a tent guyline taut) is missing. But between this book and some web resources, you will be all set. So, grab about 10 ft of a couple different diameter 6mm or smaller scraps (if no scraps, they are about a buck each) from your local outdoor store, keep them handy, and practice, practice, practice!
Book Review: Dated, inaccurate, and mainly for sailors
Summary: 2 Stars
In a word: disappointing.
While the book does cover a wide spectrum of knots (from some appropriate to jury-rigging a mast to some that are purely decorative) the amount of information provided on each knot is unsatisfactory, sometimes inaccurate, and clearly written principally with sailors in mind. The caveats provided regarding the best uses of each knot seem like hand-me-down wisdom as opposed to empirical facts, as when the author warns that the "Flemish" variation of the Figure-8 knot, also known as a Figure-9 knot, is weak. If fact, this knot has a marginally higher breaking strength and is easier to untie than the standard figure-8. Much conventional thinking regarding knots and ropecraft has been found to be false since climbers and others have begun rigorously testing materials and techniques, and this book predates these discoveries.
It is my opinion that the general knot-adoring public is much better served by an in-depth treatment of a few knots, used in a variety of ways, than with a book that breezes through eight ways to tie a fishing line to an eyeless hook.
I wish I could recommend a better book, for surely there are many that exist (e.g. Ashley Book of Knots, for the devoted), but truthfully the best resources I've found for knot-tying are all online, for free.
Have fun with your knots, pass on this book.
Book Review: Crosses disciplines, very comprehensive, easy to follow...everything necessary in a How To Tie Knots book
Summary: 5 Stars
Initially I picked up The Morrow Guide to Knots to reinforce some scuba knowledge, but after becoming completely immersed with the presentation and information I found quite a bit of interest in the varying methods of knots.
First, there are 647 color pictures that show step-by-step procedures for tying the various knots that fall into one of the following categories: hitches, loops, running knots, tackles, bends, decorative, and applied. Most knots are easy to follow and reproduce, and I was a level 2 certified bondage dominator in less than ten minutes. Looking to improve the bowline used for scuba diving, I found the Spanish bowline that was absolutely ridiculous. I might run out of air before tying the knot. The Three Part Crown is like and explosion of rope. And the Monkey Fist looks like someone just threw up spaghetti. There are definitely some complex knots in the book, and much more than a few pictures are needed to duplicate what is in the pages. If anything, that is the book's flaw.
The final section of the book is very interesting. I hadn't really thought of applied knots before, but it's amazing what can be done. Ladders, nets, safety harnesses for rappelling, and even scaffolding is possible. It's quite impressive that some of these M.C. Escher knots are not only done, but have a functional purpose.
Great book for those wanting to learn about knots or become an Eagle Scout.
Book Review: An excellent presentation of very useful knots
Summary: 5 Stars
This is very instructive book that shows with clear photographs and concise but clear explanations how to tie mostly basic but useful knots. The sections are divided in utility knots, knots for the fisherman and decorative and applied knots. Particularly practical is the section of knots for the fisherman, with knots that will solve any fisherman emergency from knots for eye hooks to knots used to join two pieces of line.Beginning with an explanation of how to take care of the ropes and some interesting behavioral facts about knots like: that a knot uniting two ropes reduces the strength of the unit to about half that of the weaker rope. The authors present each knot with a short description and practical recommendations for their use.
The instructive value of this book is shown in the simple fact that when for tying a knot there is more than one rope involved each rope has a different color avoiding in this way any possible confusion.
I really enjoyed the book, without any doubt this book would be of invaluable help and necessary reference for any camper, fisherman or sailing enthusiast. So just practice, and become an expert in those four or five knots that will let you overcome any emergency, remembering that a knot must be an element of safety rather than a dangerous complication.
Book Review: A Sailing Instructor's Choice of a Knot Book
Summary: 5 Stars
The fastest way for a crewman on a sailboat to demonstrate his or her skills to a new skipper, or to fellow crew members onboard a yacht is to teach them the correct way to tie a knot or to teach them a useful new knot. Nothing builds credibility faster onboard a boat. Long ago I decided to be better at knots than anyone else I knew. It paid big dividends. This was my first choice for a knot book. It is the book I recommend to every one of my sailing students. You will need two 6' pieces of rope, of different thicknesses, a 20' or longer section for practice coiling line. Practice knots in front of your TV set during commercials. It won't take any time out of your life and you will improve. I still carry my original practice line--a 35' piece of 6 mm line, in my life jacket, which is always useful onboard. So, learn how to tie these knots consistently, and quickly--even with your eyes closed. While you do it keep in mind anything you tie should be easy to untie. The only thing I did not like was author's method for coiling and crowning line. It is pretty, but too cumbersome to untie.