KNOTBOARDS

Impressive Displays of Sailors' Ropework. In the days of sailing ships, sailors had to be rope-tying experts, for the safety of the ship and crew could depend upon whether a knot was correctly tied. On a fully rigged ship, serveral miles of rigging incorporated thousands of knots. There was a different knot for every chore, from the simple hitch to the most ornate Turk's Head. Tying knots became a craft in itself carried out during long months at sea. Knotboards served as useful training references as well as object of pride.