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 Post subject: Stopper knot question
PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:39 am 
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I have been rock climbing for a little over ten years now and have always used a double fisherman's knot as my stopper knot in virtually all situations. I have now decided to take up sailing and everyone teaches to use the figure eight knot as a stopper knot? I feel like the double fisherman knot is a better choice as the tail has no chance of slipping, the figure eight knot with heavy load can slip slightly and come undone if the tail is not long enough. Is there a reason that sailors prefer the figure eight as their stopper? Thanks in advance!


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:50 am 
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My personal experience is that line thickness is of prime consideration on which to use. The fisherman's knot would be a bulky mess with standard 8-10mm line. Also, the figure 8 is much easier to untie, whereas the fisherman's knot typically needs to be cut.


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:17 pm 
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Figure 8 works great and easy to untie even after a load.


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 5:21 pm 
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WadeA wrote:
I have been rock climbing for a little over ten years now and have always used a double fisherman's knot as my stopper knot in virtually all situations. I have now decided to take up sailing and everyone teaches to use the figure eight knot as a stopper knot? I feel like the double fisherman knot is a better choice as the tail has no chance of slipping, the figure eight knot with heavy load can slip slightly and come undone if the tail is not long enough. Is there a reason that sailors prefer the figure eight as their stopper? Thanks in advance!
The difference is that in rock climbing, your life depends on the knots you tie. Thus you tie knots that don't come undone - even when you want them to.

Sailing on the other hand, rarely has such high stakes. A figure 8 knot works just fine.


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:18 am 
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Joined: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:19 pm
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Figure 8 can also be done one handed, quickly.
I choose it because its easy to untie after a load like everybody else says.
I have no idea if the double fishermans not is easy to untie, but I would think it can't be that hard if rock climbers use it, unless they are always cutting lines.

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