Water Knot - Troop 86

Water Knot – Knot of the Week

This is yet another knot that fits in with the Climbing Merit Badge and Program Feature. Read on to learn more about this knot.

Climbing Knots

The Water Knot is one of several knots referenced in the Climbing Merit Badge, as well as the Climbing and Repelling troop meeting program feature. For the past few weeks, we’ve focused on a number of climbing-related knots, since this is something the Scouts will need to learn in order to earn their Climbing Merit Badge.

When Is It Used?

This knot is used to join two ends of webbing in climbing, making webbing loops, rigging rappelling anchors, and other similar uses. When tied correctly, it joins together two ends of separate (or the same) webbing. While it is a little more difficult to do, it can also be tied with rope.

How To Tie A Water Knot

This knot is a little more difficult to tie that some of the ones we’ve covered recently. Not because it involves difficult steps. (It’s essentially two overhand knots.) The trick is ensuring that the two rope ends are weaved together correctly.

You start by making the first overhand knot in one of the rope ends. Without completely tightening it, you then pass the other rope end through the knot, tie an overhand knot, finishing it by passing it through the first knot again. The second rope/webbing essentially follows the first one.

This is MUCH easier to demonstrate with pictures and videos. The 101 Knots Website has a good page on this knot that includes some helpful graphics. REI also has a short video that demonstrates this with tubular webbing.