Commonly described as a knot for shortening a line temporarily, the Sheepshank has more practical value as a means of bypassing a chafed section of rope (see bottom photo on opposite page).
Where this is the intention, a bight is taken in the line well to one side of the damaged area and brought back alongside the standing part on the other side of the damage. There it is applied to the standing part and twisted, as in the Bowline or Waggoner’s Hitch, to leave the bight protruding through a loop in the standing part. The remaining bight is applied to the standing part next to it in the same way. The result is a Sheepshank as shown with the chafed rope in the middle. If formed correctly this can actually be cut through without the knot falling apart so long as tension is maintained. To prevent the Sheepshank falling apart when not under load, seize the ‘ears’ to the standing parts as shown.
