Knot Strengths

Knot Strengths

So, how strong is a knot...Knot very!

According to the U.S. Coast Guard in their Boat Crew Seamanship Manual COMDTINST M16114.5B (Feb 27, 1998) common knots lose much of the line's strength. The following table is from the above manual.

Knots or Splice

Percent of Line
Breaking Strength Lost

Percent of Line
Breaking Strength Remaining

Square

46

54

Bowline

37

63

Two Bowlines
(Eye in Eye)

43

57

Becket Bend

41

59

Double Becket Bend

41

59

Round Turn

30-35

65-70

Timber Hitch

30-35

65-70

Clove Hitch

40

60

Eye Splice

5-10

90-95

Short Splice

15

85

Return Knots