Answers from Fred

In answer to my previous quaere to Fred about how to tie off my line, he gave this thoughtful response:

When the other end of the line is drawn through the loop and pulled tight, hold the tension by pinching the intersection of loop and line, and secure it with a single half-hitch made with a bight of the loose line. Do not draw the line all the way through the half-hitch--leave the bight and a tail so that it is easy to undo.

Simple enough.

Then I followed up with the question as to how to best secure two lines together. His response was the sheet bend, of course.

I did some research into the sheet bend, and it seems an eminently simple knot to tie, something I should be able to master with six to eight weeks of diligent practice.

Here is an illustration of a secure, correct sheet bend: What could be simpler?

Of course, here is an illustration of an insecure sheet bend, something liable to blow apart at any moment, causing wreck and ruin:DISASTER!

What, you are asking yourself, is the difference?

I wish I could tell you. Clearly the tail end of the rope is pointing up, rather than down. Beyond that, however? I'm not sure.
Which is bad, as my very life could depend on it.