Free 3D training
Skill drills
Free interactive 3D drills that teach paddling knots one decision at a time. Choose wrong and you watch what happens, safely, before it can happen for real.
- Free
- No signup
- Interactive 3D
- 3 techniques
3 techniques
Paddling knots
Tie the knots that get a boat to the water, in 3D and one step at a time: the trucker's hitch and the bowline for the roof rack, and the taut-line hitch for camp. Choose wrong and you watch the line come free.
Start hereTrucker's hitchA loop in the line that works like a pulley, so you can pull a rope tight over a boat on a roof rack and lock it off with half hitches.5 steps
Technique 2BowlineA fixed loop in the end of a line that will not slip or jam: here, the end of a tie-down tied round the roof-rack crossbar.5 steps
Technique 3Taut-line hitchAn adjustable loop that slides to tighten a tent or tarp guyline and holds where you leave it. A camp knot, not a roof-rack knot.5 steps
Watch & learn
Skills on video
Picked from our video library. These are other creators' videos, so where one differs from the drill, the drill's sourced steps are the ones to follow.
How to Tie a Trucker's Hitch
REI
0How To: Tying Bow & Stern Lines - Truckers Hitch
Rutabaga Paddlesports
0Kayaking | How to Transport a Kayak || REI
REI
0How to Tie a Canoe to the Top of Your Car
Ely Outfitting Company
0How to Tie a Bowline Knot
Scout Life
0How to Tie a Taut-Line Hitch
Scout Life
0
How it works
How a drill works
One decision at a time
Each technique is a short run of steps. Pick an answer, or tap to do the step, and the 3D scene moves on with you.
Wrong choices play out
Choose wrong and the scene shows what would happen, then explains why. Try the step again until it makes sense.
Every step is sourced
Each instruction cites the makers, agencies and guides it comes from, and the full written steps sit under every drill.
A drill is practice, not certification. Learn any skill hands-on from someone experienced before you rely on it.
