🔍 Key Concepts

• Efficiency of knots – some knots weaken a line more than others • Typical uses of bends (joining two lines) vs loops (making an eye) vs reefing knots (tying reef points) • Which knots are considered secure yet easy to untie under load (often designed to preserve more line strength)

💭 Think About

• Think about which of these knots is commonly recommended when you want a strong connection between lines without cutting line strength too much. • Ask yourself: which knot on the list is well-known for being safe for critical loads (like towing or heavy strain), rather than just convenience or quick tying? • Consider which knots are often criticized as being weak or slipping under load; those are less likely to preserve line strength.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which of the four is primarily a reefing knot (used for tying reef points in sails) and often warned against for heavy loads. • Identify which are bends (used to join two lines) and think about which of those is designed for heavy strain and minimal slippage. • Recall from your seamanship notes which knot is often described as having high efficiency (high % of line strength retained) under load.