Joe Appleton
Articles by Joe Appleton
Best Waterproof Camera of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
If you want to take quality pictures underwater or in wet conditions, you’ll want the best waterproof camera you can buy. Unlike regular cameras, these units are designed with water resistance in mind. They’re tough, shockproof, dustproof, weatherproof, and most importantly: waterproof. If you’ve ever taken your camera to the beach or on a boat,…
Best Tactical Flashlight of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
Military, law enforcement, and first responders will use nothing less than the best tactical flashlight available. A substandard light source can put lives at risk or compromise an operation, and that’s why you should always buy the best tool for the job. Unlike regular flashlights, tactical models are designed for use in serious situations, and…
Best Flashlight of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
There are plenty of good reasons for wanting the best flashlight that you can buy. Light is an essential tool for most tasks, and being able to quickly and efficiently illuminate a room or a space is invaluable. If there’s a power outage, you grab your flashlight. If you’re looking for something in a poorly…
Best Multitool of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
The best multitool for one person isn’t going to be the right fit for another. It’s as simple as that. Multitools, though practical and versatile, are divisive gadgets. For many, they’re the wrong tool for a million jobs, while for others, they’re an indispensable part of their every day carry. Of course, no multitool will…
Best Pocket Knife of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
Any outdoor enthusiast worth their salt will be armed with the best pocket knife they can afford. A good knife is more than a drop point blade and comfortable handle: it’s a versatile tool that can cut, slice, whittle, saw, and chisel. And in some cases, the right knife could save someone’s life. Since knives…
Best Night Vision Goggles of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
Selecting the best night vision goggles on the market is no easy task. Prices range from $150 right the up to over $10,000! These devices have very different capabilities and depending on your expectations, they all have the ability to impress you or disappoint you. That’s why we’ve decided to put together this list of…
How To Tie A Midshipman’s Hitch Knot
It’s important to know how to tie a Midshipman’s Hitch Knot if you’re heading out on the water. It’s a strong and practical knot that can be used for a variety of purposes. It’s easy to tie, unloaded or under load, and relatively easy to untie too. It’s a great knot that makes an adjustable…
How To Tie A Zeppelin Bend Knot
If you want to learn how to tie a Zeppelin Bend Knot, then here’s everything you need to know. The Zeppelin Bend, also known as the Rosendahl Knot, is a practical knot that uses a combination of overhand knots that interlock together. It’s extremely reliable, rarely slips or binds, and can be untied even after…
How To Tie A Running Bowline Knot
The Running Bowline Knot is a versatile noose-type knot known to most boaters It’s an incredibly useful knot based on the common bowline with many practical applications. The Running Bowline is found in the Ashley Book Of Knots (#1117) and is described as an essential knot that can create a noose that won’t bind or…
How To Tie A Soft Shackle Knot
Learning how to tie a Soft Shackle Knot is an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s a difficult knot to tie and the process is far trickier than for tying other knots but soft shackles are very useful things, and knowing how to make your own is a handy skill. If you’re not familiar with soft shackles,…
How To Tie A Trucker’s Hitch Knot
Learning how to tie the Trucker’s Hitch Knot will pay massive dividends in the future. This is a seriously practical knot that can be used for so many tasks. Even if you’re not a regular boater or a trucker for that matter, there are plenty of reasons to master this incredible hitch. Listed in the…
How To Tie A Heaving Line Knot
Learning how to tie a heaving line knot is a handy skill when you’re out on the water. The heaving line knot family covers a range of knots that are designed to add extra weight to the end of a rope. Adding weight to the end of a rope is a particularly useful thing to…
How To Tie A Halyard Hitch Knot
Knowing how to tie a Halyard Hitch Knot should be a fundamental sailing skill. The Halyard, also known as the halliard, is a special rope that sailors would use to hoist an object. These objects could be a mainsail, a flag up a flag pole, a ladder, or a yard. In fact, it’s the latter…
How To Tie An Icicle Hitch Knot
The Icicle Hitch Knot is a strong and practical slide and grip knot that can be tied around a rope or spar, and hold significant weight. It can be used on smooth or tapered surfaces which is where Icicle Hitch Knot gets its name. First demonstrated in 1990 at the eighth Annual Meeting of the…
How To Tie An Alpine Butterfly Loop Knot
Knowing how to tie an Alpine Butterfly Loop Knot is an essential skill, especially if you’re looking for a strong knot that’s more stable than a Bowline On A Bight or a Figure 8 Loop. The Alpine Butterfly Loop is a strong and secure knot that gives users a trustworthy loop in the middle of…
How To Tie An Eye Splice Knot
Learning how to tie an Eye Splice Knot it a very practical skill. If you’re not familiar with an Eye Splice, it’s a way of creating a permanent loop on the end of a rope. It can only be done on ropes with multiple-strands as part of its construction. When properly tied, it creates a…
How To Tie A Buntline Hitch Knot
The Buntline Hitch Knot dates back all the way to the Age of Sail, so even if you don’t plan on learning it for its uses, you can learn it for its historical value Listed in the Ashley Book Of Knots (#1847), the Buntline Hitch is noted as being an essential part of maritime history….
How To Tie A Double Sheet Bend Knot
The Double Sheet Bend Knot is a more advanced version of the standard Sheet Bend. It’s important to learn how to tie the Double Sheet Bend since it’s a more secure version than the single bend arrangement. It’s a capable knot that can be used to join two ropes of differing sizes. The traditional Sheet…
How To Tie A Rolling Hitch Knot
It’s a wise idea to learn how to tie the Rolling Hitch Knot. It’s practical, simple, and has many uses. The knot is often used for attaching a rope to a pole, or to attach a rope to a larger line. It’s a basic friction knot that’s designed for a lengthways pull, rather than to…
How To Tie A Barrel Hitch Knot
The Barrel Hitch Knot is not as popular today as it once was. Most boaters don’t need to hoist barrels anymore. But the Barrel Hitch Knot is a simple and effective way to safely suspend any object. In the Ashley Book Of Knots, Ashley describes this knot in two different ways (Ashley #2176 and #2177)…
How To Tie A Stopper Knot
Knowing how to tie a stopper knot is an essential skill. The term “stopper knot” refers to many different knots. If you hear the term “stopper knot” without any other name attached to it, then you’re most likely hearing about the Ashley Stopper Knot. It’s named in the Ashley Book Of Knots as the Oysterman’s…
How To Tie A Carrick Bend Knot
If you’re looking for a safe and reliable way to secure two ropes together, then you should learn how to tie the Carrick Bend knot. Sometimes known as the Sailor’s Breastplate About the Carrick Bend The Carrick Bend is listed in the Ashley Book Of Knots as #1439. It’s described as a bend commonly tied…
How To Tie A Blackwall Hitch Knot
. The Blackwall Hitch is a very simple knot that is ideal for securing cargo to a hook. In short, it’s just a Half Hitch knot over a hook! It’s easy to construct, quick to deploy and is quite reliable when tied properly. That said, there are conditions in which it can fail and, as…
How To Tie A Timber Hitch Knot
If you’re used to handling cargo, then you should already know how to tie a Timber Hitch Knot. This knot is an efficient and practical knot that can be used to tow objects. Whether you’re floating timber down a river or hauling heavy loads overland, the Timber Hitch Knot won’t let you down. The Timber…
How To Tie A French Bowline Knot
The French Bowline Knot is a practical and reliable knot that forms two secure loops. It’s also known as the Portuguese Bowline, and is very similar to the Bowline On A Bight. It has a number of practical uses including the Bosun’s Chair harness, which can be used to help transport heavy goods, to allow…
How To Tie A Bowline On A Bight Knot
The Bowline On A Bight Knot can seem complicated at first but is fairly straightforward. It’s versatile and effective for boaters and everyday use, as well. Once tied, it creates loops on a length of rope which can handle a heavy load but is still easy to untie. Like the regular Bowline Knot, this practical…
How To Tie A Figure 8 Knot
Learning how to tie a Figure 8 Knot is an essential part of sailing. This practical knot is a strong, versatile, and reliable knot that can be used for a wide variety of applications. It’s quick to deploy, easy to master, with plenty of uses on deck and on land. The Figure 8 Knot is…
How To Tie A Half Hitch Knot
Learning how to tie the Half Hitch Knot should be the first thing you do as a novice boater. It’s a simple knot, and although it really shouldn’t be used as a complete knot in its own right, it’s a fundamental part of many other, more secure knots. The Half Hitch Knot is a very…
The 24 Best Pirate Movies You Can Watch Right Now
Pirate movies have been a staple of film since the silent era. Alongside Westerns, pirate movies were one of the most popular genres through the Golden Age of Hollywood, and then they fell by the wayside. Though the genre never truly died, it wasn’t until Pirates of the Caribbean that it was invigorated again, and…
Best Boat Name Decals And Lettering Solutions For Your Boat!
Boat name decals might not be the most obvious accessories you need to invest in, but you will need them. Since the US Coast Guard requires that all boats are correctly registered, your boat will be given a special Hull Identification Number. This number works similarly to your car’s license plate number. However, you’ll have…
