Marinero

Marinero › Knots › Figure-8 knot

Free guide · no account

How to tie a figure eight knot

A figure eight knot is a stopper: it puts a bulky lump in the end of a rope so the line cannot run out through a block, a fairlead or a clutch. Over, under, through — three moves. It holds more bulk than an overhand knot and, unlike an overhand, it still unties after it has been slammed tight under load.

A finished figure eight knot
Type
Stopper knot
Strength
Not load-bearing — it stops, it does not hold
Ease to untie
Easy, even after being loaded hard
Best for
The end of every sheet and halyard

“Over, under, through.”

Tie it step by step

  1. Make a loop — end over standing partCross the working end over the standing part to make a loop.
    Figure-8 knot — make a loop — end over standing part
  2. Bring the end under and around the standing partAround the back — this is what gives the knot its figure-8 shape and its bulk.
    Figure-8 knot — bring the end under and around the standing part
  3. Pass the end down through the loop and pull tightDown through the original loop, then dress it. You should see the 8 clearly.
    Figure-8 knot — pass the end down through the loop and pull tight

When you will use it on a boat

Before you leave the dock, walk the boat and check that every sheet has a figure eight in the end. It costs ten seconds and saves the afternoon: without one, a flogging jib sheet whips out through the fairlead and you are on the foredeck in a blow re-reeving it.

Same for halyards. A halyard that runs off the winch and up the mast means somebody is going aloft. Charter briefings skip this; good crew do not.

Outside sailing you will meet the same knot in climbing, where the figure eight follow-through ties the rope into a harness.

Watch out for

Do

  • One in the end of every sheet and every halyard tail
  • About a hand’s width from the end
  • Check them all as part of your leaving-harbour routine

Don’t

  • Not a knot for joining or holding load — it is a stopper only
  • Not an overhand knot instead: it jams solid and has less bulk
  • Not tied so far up the line that the tail can still run out

Related knots

A finished bowlineBowlineA fixed loop that will not slip or jam, and unties easily even after being loaded.A finished reef knotReef knotTies off a reefed sail: flat, symmetrical and easy to shake out.A finished cleat hitchCleat hitchThe most-tied knot on a charter — dock lines, halyards and fenders all finish on a cleat.

Questions people ask

What is a figure eight knot used for?

As a stopper in the end of a rope so it cannot run out through a block, clutch or fairlead. In climbing, the follow-through version is used to tie the rope to a harness.

Is a figure eight better than an overhand knot?

Yes, for this job. It has more bulk, so it jams less easily into a block, and it can still be untied after being loaded hard — an overhand knot under load can be impossible to undo.

How do you untie a figure eight after it is loaded?

Bend the rope sharply either side of the knot to break its shape, then push the loops apart with your thumbs. It loosens far more easily than an overhand knot.

Is the figure eight the same as a figure eight loop?

No. The plain figure eight is a stopper tied in the end of the line. A figure eight loop (or follow-through) makes a fixed loop and is the standard tie-in knot in climbing.

Can you tie it from memory?

Reading a knot and tying it on a pitching foredeck are different skills. Test the first one in two minutes, then close the gap with the course.

Name That Knot →Start the course free