Knot Tying Instructions

Extra Kiting Knots For That Little Bit More Finesse!

These knot tying instructions supplement the knot tying illustration page. The bigger the kite, the more important to use the right knots. All of these have been used on the MBK series of kites, particularly the large Dowel designs.

The Simple Knot - Multiple Strand

The main use for this knot in an MBK kite is tying off the lines that have been taped to a plastic keel. The nice thing about a double-line simple knot is that you can carefully adjust it to an exact position along the line. Too far one way, and you'll crush the keel. Too far the other, and there will be an untidy gap between the keel and the vertical spar when you finally attach the keel to the spar with Granny knots.

This knot can also be used to tie two pieces of line together. However, I've found this simple knot can pull through under a lot of strain. The solution to this problem is coming up next in these knot tying instructions...

The Double Knot - Multiple Strand

If you ever need to cut and then re-join a piece of bridle line, this knot is handy. It's so easy to do, and that extra turn of line makes it slip-proof. Unlike the simple knot! However, I would not use this for flying line since I'm pretty sure it would reduce the breaking strain quite a bit. That's not so much of a problem in a bridle since the strain is shared between 2 or more lines.

Apart from modifying a bridle, this also comes in handy when scrapping old sail and re-using the horizontal spar(s) I actually did this during trials and tribulations with the Dowel Roller kite! Snipped the old bridle lines so they could be fed through holes in the new sail.

The Slip Knot

A small Loop Knot in the end of the line prevents this slip knot from coming undone. At least in theory! In practice, the loop can still loosen off with handling, allowing even a loop knot to slip through. Again, a tiny dob of glue will make the knot permanent after it is first tied and tightened.

I have used this knot many times for securing bridle lines to spars. If you keep the loop knot as small as possible, it doesn't look too untidy! Sometimes I've done a test flight or 2 before fixing the knots with glue.

The Double Loop Knot

This loop knot is significantly stronger than the simple loop. However, it's almost as easy to tie. Just wrap the loop around twice instead of once. That's it. The tightened knot also looks a little bigger than the knot in the simple loop. Use this knot on the end of your flying line.

The Figure-Eight Loop Knot

This loop knot is also significantly stronger than the simple overhand loop. It's a fishing knot, and just a little trickier to tie. Many kite people use this knot on the end of their flying lines. One day I'm going to get around to doing some tests to see if it really is stronger than the Double Overhand Loop Knot.. The results will be reported in these knot tying instructions!

I hope you found these knot tying instructions useful.

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Last updated: 14 Jul 2009