For decades The Ashley Book of Knots was arguably the most definitive text on knot tying, or what in past centuries was known as marlinspike seamanship, and it was the go-to source for recreational boaters wanting to learn the art.
The book’s author, Clifford W. Ashley (1881-1947) devoted 11 years to writing the text after some 40 years of practical research while working aboard sailing ships and later, “hobnobbing” with butchers, steeple jacks, cobblers, truck drivers, linesmen, Boy Scouts, cowboys, and “ladies who knit.”
His book gave clear, concise directions on how to tie more than 3,900 knots, along with their histories and explanations on how and why to use them. And as Ashley was also a noted marine artist, there were sketches clearly depicting how the knots are used.
“A knot is never nearly right; it is either exactly right or it is hopelessly wrong, one way or the other; there is nothing in between,” Ashley cautioned his readers.
Unfortunately though, Ashley’s book was a large, heavy text rather than a pocket field guide, so using it required practice and memorization and therefore often its student readers later tied “nearly right” knots.
Now however, thanks to Animated Knots By Grog, recreational boaters with smartphones – either iPhones or Android – can download an “app” to both learn how to tie knots exactly the “right way” and to remind themselves how when and wherever there’s a need.
With just a click on any knot displayed on the Web site, a boater can watch in slow motion as an animated rope slowly snakes its way to form the proper design. There is also text pointing out common mistakes and providing knot terminology, as well as knot and rope safety tips.
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