How do you "dead end" a line?

[Jeffrey Ward]

The Laser rigging guide frequently says to "dead end" a line to a block. Is there any particular way one should "dead end" the line? A bowline is the knot that immediately comes to mind to me. Is there another knot that is better used to "dead end" a line?

 

[torrid]

Often a figure-eight knot. Prime example is the mainsheet on the end of the boom. You can't two-block it otherwise.

 

[Bantry sailing]

i put 2 figure of eights at the end of the main sheet as i find when sailing in rough conditions one comes comes out, it has happened to me before and tricky to put it all back when your on the water ...

 

[laserxd]

8 knot, make sure you have a good clean end on the line that won't fray

 

[Merrily]

If you want to tie a line to a becket, use the bowline.

If you want a knot in the end of the line to keep it from running through a block, you can use a figure 8, but I like the barrel knot because it makes a little bit bigger knot. Two small coils then run the bitter end through the coils from the inside out. (If that makes sense.)

 

[StJulian]

Merrily's knot sounds like the "double overhand stopper knot" that I favour for the boom block, but I like the "barrel knot" name better.