Nautical knots

I don't know if you have an obsession about good knots, like I do (though I truly hope you are not afflicted!).  There is generally only one knot that is the best application for each various purpose around a sailboat, and I like to know what it is!

I see lists touting the "best 3 knots", or "essential 5 knots", or "top 10 knots".  I compiled my own list of most useful knots, and it ended up at 16 somehow, although the cleat hitch and flemish flake are not really knots.  Note: I added 2 more, so it's up to 18 now!  Nother note: Added 2 more, to make 20!

Here is my list of favorites, along with their best applications for sailing...

1. Bowline - Non-slip loop for person overboard retrieval; lots of other uses 
2. Round turn and 2 half hitches - Dock line to piling, securely; fender line to lifeline 
3. Clove hitch - Dock line to piling, temporarily; fender line to lifeline 
4. Half hitch slip knot - Stow mainsail to boom with nylon sail ties  
5. Reef knot - Secure loose sailcloth of mainsail after reef 
6. Rolling hitch - Take tension off a loaded line, e.g., to clear winch override 
7. Figure 8 stopper - Prevent line from pulling through block or clutch, easy untie 
8. Triple overhand stopper - Prevent line from pulling through block or clutch, semi-permanently 
9. Halyard hitch - Line to shackle, semi-permanently 
10. Scaffold knot - Line to shackle, instead of eye splice, especially with thimble 
11. Sheet bend - Attach 2 dissimilar lines together, temporarily 
12. Constrictor knot - Field bind loose end of a line instead of whipping; replace broken hose clamp 
13. Anchor hitch - Rode or lanyard to fixed object, e.g., anchor or bucket handle 
14. Ossel hitch - Attach webbing to fixed object, e.g., lee cloth strap to hand rail 
15. Cleat hitch - Dock line to cleat 
16. Flemish flake - Dress end of dockline neatly
17. Double fisherman's knot - Connect 2 ends of line for a secure loop
18. Prusik knot - Bind a line to another line or shroud, e.g. attach flag to backstay
19. Perfection loop - Secure, non-slip loop in shock elastics, e.g., bungee cord
20. Overhand loop - Secure, non-slip loop in webbing

If you want to check out these and other knots, a good place to start is the School of Sailing, Sailing Knots page.  There is a good iTunes App named "Knots 3D" by Nynix LLC, with animation.  The definitive book on knots is the "Ashley Book of Knots", written by Clifford Ashley in 1944, and you can learn 3900 knots there!  I have a decent small book - "Guide to Knots" by Geoffrey Budworth - if you want to borrow it.