How to Tie a Catshank Knot

A catshank knot shortens the length of a rope. It is similar to a sheepshank but is less likely to slip. The main disadvantage of a catshank is that a sheepshank may be tied in the bight without using either end, whereas a catshank requires access to at least one end of the rope. The following steps will show how to tie a catshank knot.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Tie an overhand knot and call it knot A. Form a loop so that the working end is on top of the standing end and bring the working end through the loop just created from below.

2. Make a similar overhand knot B to the right of knot A. Separate the two knots by at least the length by which you wish to shorten the rope.

3. Form two bights with the rope separating knots A and B. Call the first one bight A and should be made at about one-third of the distance from knot A to knot B. The second bight will be called bight B and should be made at about two-thirds the distance from knot A to knot B.

4. Pull bight A through knot B and pull bight B through knot A. Adjust the distance between the two knots as desired by pulling bights of equal length through the two knots.

5. Dress the catshank by tightening the overhand knots so that they hold the bights securely. While the catshank is more secure than the sheepshank, it is less secure than the dogshank.