There is not enough room in a small boat to be sloppy when stowing gear not in use. Tarps, sleeping pads, and sails (almost anything made of fabric) can be kept from occupying more space that necessary by being rolled tightly. The trick is to keep it that way. Putting a length of cord around the bundle and tying it with a bow knot, as if tying one’s shoes, is likely to lose tension in the process and a bungee, while it can stretch and keep the bundle compressed, may not be the right length to get the hooks on the end engaged. This self-inflating sleeping pad has the squeeze put on it by three cinches, from left: loop and twist, toggle, and lark's head.
Photographs by the author
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That third one by passing the working ends through a lark’s head from the other side is mighty slick. Can’t say I’ve ever seen it. Whatever gave you the idea?
I can’t claim to have come up with any of the cinches. I often watch how-to videos and occasionally find things that would be useful in boating pursuits. I found a few bushcraft Youtube channels that featured the cinches. I didn’t find any of them in Ashley’s Book of Knots and thought they might be unknown in boating circles.
Those look like excellent techniques, Chris! Many thanks! I’ve been in the habit, for many years now, of keeping a spool of nylon twine around for light-duty fastenings like these, but you’re right, it’s slippery stuff! I’m wondering what kind of cord you prefer? The texture of the stuff in the photos makes me think of cotton?