Knot & Rigging MARITIME TOOLKIT
3D Studio

TOOLS

All 28 rope, knot and rigging tools

Everything on the site in one list. Filter by stage, search by name or use, and sort however you like.

Rope & CordageKnots & SplicesRigging HardwareSailing & LinesSafety & Maintenance Database
Nylon Rope — nautical chart line drawing

Nylon Rope

High-stretch synthetic with excellent shock absorption — the default for anchor rodes and dock lines.

Rope & Cordage Select
Polyester Rope — nautical chart line drawing

Polyester Rope

Low stretch, strong ultraviolet resistance — the working line for sheets, halyards and general rigging.

Rope & Cordage Select
Manila Rope — nautical chart line drawing

Manila Rope

The traditional natural-fibre line — good grip and a classic look, but it rots, and it is far weaker wet.

Rope & Cordage Select
Dyneema Rope — nautical chart line drawing

Dyneema Rope

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene — the strongest line by weight, with almost no stretch at all.

Rope & Cordage Select
Shock Cord — nautical chart line drawing

Shock Cord

Elastic bungee cord for holding, tensioning and absorbing small movements — never for load-bearing duty.

Rope & Cordage Select
Paracord — nautical chart line drawing

Paracord

Light nylon kernmantle cord — 550 lb rated, seven removable inner strands, endlessly useful ashore.

Rope & Cordage Select
Bowline — nautical chart line drawing

Bowline

The fixed loop that will not jam — the single most useful knot in seamanship.

Knots & Splices Tie
Figure-eight — nautical chart line drawing

Figure-eight

A strong, symmetrical stopper and loop knot — the standard where the load matters more than easy untying.

Knots & Splices Tie
Clove Hitch — nautical chart line drawing

Clove Hitch

Two crossing turns that grip a post or rail — fast, adjustable, and only trustworthy under constant tension.

Knots & Splices Tie
Sheet Bend — nautical chart line drawing

Sheet Bend

The way to join two lines of different size — a bend that holds where a square knot will not.

Knots & Splices Tie
Eye Splice — nautical chart line drawing

Eye Splice

A permanent loop spliced into the line itself — the strongest way to terminate a rope.

Knots & Splices Tie
Short Splice — nautical chart line drawing

Short Splice

The permanent way to join two lines of the same size — nearly as strong as the rope itself.

Knots & Splices Tie
Shackle — nautical chart line drawing

Shackle

The universal metal connector — a bow or Dee shackle with a pin, rated by working load limit.

Rigging Hardware Select
Snap Hook — nautical chart line drawing

Snap Hook

A spring-gate hook for fast, frequently changed connections — with a gate that must never carry load.

Rigging Hardware Select
Thimble — nautical chart line drawing

Thimble

A metal liner for a spliced eye that spreads the load and stops chafe cutting the rope.

Rigging Hardware Select
Turnbuckle — nautical chart line drawing

Turnbuckle

A threaded tensioner for standing rigging — two threaded ends and a body you turn to shorten or lengthen.

Rigging Hardware Select
Block & Tackle — nautical chart line drawing

Block & Tackle

Sheaves and rope combined into a system that trades distance for force — with friction taking its cut.

Rigging Hardware Select
Cleat — nautical chart line drawing

Cleat

The fitting a line is made fast to — horn, cam or jam, each with its own way of holding and releasing.

Rigging Hardware Select
Halyard — nautical chart line drawing

Halyard

The line that hoists a sail — low stretch, spliced at both ends, sized to the winch.

Sailing & Lines Select
Sheet Line — nautical chart line drawing

Sheet Line

The line that trims a sail — handled constantly, so grip and abrasion resistance come first.

Sailing & Lines Select
Dock Line — nautical chart line drawing

Dock Line

The line that holds a boat to the shore — nylon, spliced eyes, and sized for the worst surge.

Sailing & Lines Select
Anchor Rode — nautical chart line drawing

Anchor Rode

Chain and nylon combined — the chain holds the anchor down, the rope absorbs the snatch.

Sailing & Lines Select
Fender Line — nautical chart line drawing

Fender Line

Short, adjustable lines that hold fenders at the right height — simple, but they must be right.

Sailing & Lines Select
Safety Harness — nautical chart line drawing

Safety Harness

A body-holding harness and tether system — the one item on this site that must be certified and inspected.

Safety & Maintenance Select
Rope Cutter — nautical chart line drawing

Rope Cutter

A hot blade that cuts and fuses synthetic line in one pass — the correct way to shorten a rope.

Safety & Maintenance Maintain
Whipping Twine — nautical chart line drawing

Whipping Twine

Waxed twine bound around a rope end so the strands cannot unlay — the traditional finish.

Safety & Maintenance Maintain
Rope Bag — nautical chart line drawing

Rope Bag

A ventilated bag that keeps a line coiled, clean and ready to run without tangling.

Safety & Maintenance Maintain
Inspection Log — nautical chart line drawing

Inspection Log

A written record of every line and fitting — the cheapest piece of safety equipment there is.

Safety & Maintenance Inspect