How to tie sheepshank knots with animated knot tying help

Learn how to tie a knot, but not just any old knot... a sheepshank knot. You'll never have any troubles again tying nautical sheepshank knots, thanks to this Marinews knot tie animated tutorial. You can learn by simply watching the knot tying animation at a moderate speed, or if need be, click on "learn by steps" to get step-by-step rope knot instructions for sheepshank knots. How to make a knot is not the hard part, choosing the right fishing knots or rope knot is.

The Sheepshank shown here is in its most basic form. It comes in many variations. The Sheepshank is extremely useful for shortening a length of rope. Once formed, by pulling on the loops either end the ropes length can be shortened. The Sheepshank is also very useful for bypassing any section of line or rope that you may suspect the integrity. The Sheepshank allows you to remove that portion of the line without the need to cut and splice.

Rope knots can basically be divided into the following groups:

1. Bends - Joining two lines by intertwining them, without splicing, or sewing.
2. Hitches - A knot that secures a rope or line to another object.
3. Stopper – Used to bind strands at the end of a rope to stop fraying or unraveling. Also formed to stop a rope slipping through a hole or to provide a weight or handhold.
4. Bindings – Much like hitches. They are used to bind either lines or objects together. Their aim is to keep objects in place.
5. Splices – Describes the act of joining the ends, or the end and a standing part, of rope by interweaving strands. They are not knots in themselves.
6. Loops – Loops create structures used to tie, or secure, another object or line to another line. They can be formed at the end or midway a length of rope.
7. Plaits - Weaving several lines together to form a pattern and a cohesive structure.
8. Miscellaneous & Decorative – Knots that have decorative, dress or multiple category characteristics.