There's also the monkey fist, but I don't like it much.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jeff" wrote in message
. ..
Dave wrote:
On 31 Aug 2006 17:42:43 -0700, "RogueIT"
said:

2. what other knots should I know and why are these knots used?

Rolling hitch--also sometimes called a stopper knot. Useful where you
need
to be able to adjust the length of a loop under strain, Primary use on
larger ships is to take the strain on a line such as a mooring line while
the line is removed from a winch.

The rolling hitch (with minor variations) is sometimes called the tautline
hitch, the midshipman's knot, the tentstake knot, the magnus knot, or the
jam hitch.

When tied around a pole or log, it is usually called a rolling hitch, or
magnus knot. When tied "upside down" so that the finishing halfhitch is
on the inside, it is called a jam hitch and is used to cinch up rolls of
paper or cloth. The version I use whenever rigging an anchor bridle (and
for many other purposes) has the second turn crossed over the first, and
is referred to as a midshipman's knot.

It is never caller a "stopper knot." That term is used today for knots
like the figure-eight or stevedore's knot that is tied on the end of
running rigging to prevent unreeving.