Skipper’s Onboard Knot Guide

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical; £9.99
Publication Date: 2009

The analogy of the London bus situation whereby it is said that after a long wait, two come along at once appears to apply to books about knots. We had two in 2007 and now a further two in a catalogue that already has some 40 volumes devoted to the sailor’s needs for knots, bends and splices. You may ask whether we need more.

This does have some significant benefits over many if not all previous books in this category. The knots and their explanations are presented on splash proof pages that appear to be robust and the pages are spirally bound so the book lies flat: it can be realistically taken into the cockpit while practical examples are worked up and neither fall apart nor flip its pages when both hands may be occupied. Brief editorial material describes the varied synthetic material of which cordage is now made up with advantages and disadvantages. A paragraph is devoted to the care. The 40 Knots, bends hitches and splices are those you would expect to see. They are explained well and the colour sequential photos are graphic. Undoubtedly some favourites are left out but most will find something new. – Michael Davey