Two half hitches to cleat a boat to the dock. A bowline on the mooring, an anchor hitch whenever I throw one out, which is almost never. I prefer to drift.
A blood knot will join two lengths of monofilament together if I have a need to do that. Every hook on the line gets an improved clinch; used a davey knot once and lost a big one.
When I have a length of good rope, I coil it, hang it with a clove hitch, so that it looks immaculate. At first glance, in my shed the image evokes a hangman’s noose. A perfectly fitted collar is what they called that knot a century ago.
Once upon a time, I knew how to tie an alpine butterfly loop, but I never used that knot once. Same thing with a prusik, a knot that was conceived for climbing up a rope. Knots are not essential, until you need to tie one.
Well tied knots are not perfection either. You always seem to be in a hurry when you tie them; it is not like you are creating a work of art. All knots are meant to be undone eventually.
A square knot is never to be trusted, but you can rest your faith on a good figure eight. I am an untier of knots, so I know what I am talking about.
