Ropes can only be used when your Nautikin has at least 1 rope item in their inventory. Ropes can be activated in a couple way

Ropes need to be connected at 2 ends. Once the rope-mode is activated you can move your camera around with the interaction key (Left-ctrl)

To place the first end, move your mouse to the position nearby your Nautikin you wish to connect and left-click
Note: the mouse in this screenshot is not visible, but it is located at the end of the rope near the concrete

To finalized the placement of the rope, left click at the second position
Note: Wooden stakes will appear when connected to objects that do not generally move

Ropes can be removed in interaction mode by right-clicking on either end of the rope

Ropes can be useful for many things both intended and unintended.

As with any absurd physics mechanic, ropes can be very dangerous so proceed with caution.

Steel cables are a special item and function similar to ropes. If you have a steel cable it can be activated from the context menu in interaction mode or via "Use" in your inventory (the same as ropes). You can find this item at Portus buy shacks and some other locations.

The main difference between ropes and steel cables is that steel cables are non-elastic and create a fixed connection between 2 controllable objects that have a platform relationship.

A platform in this context is any Nautikin or vessel resting physically on top of another Nautikin or vessel. You can only create a physical connection with the steel cable when this condition is met. The game is currently unable to synchronize the connection in multiplayer. For example, you will not be able to connect 2 boats floating independently together, but if a helicopter is landed on a boat you will be able to make a connection.


A gyro copter and Nautikin both secured to a boat helipad

The primary purpose of the steel cables is to eliminate any movement of a vessel resting on top of another vessel during maneuvers (e.g. a helicopter on a boat or a jet on an aircraft carrier). Creating multiple connections with more than one steel cable does not increase stability.

You can secure containers to vessels with a few conditions that ignore platform constraints. This is useful for helicopters.

• You cannot secure a container with a steel cable if it is already bolted/secured normally.
  
• You cannot secure / bolt a container if it is already secured with a steel cable.
  
• Securing containers with cables can only be done short distances.
  
• You can only attach one steel cable per container, which means no stacking with cables.

• Ropes can be used while climbing on ladders
  
• Ropes cannot be attached to climbing Nautikins
  
• Ropes cannot be attached to Nautikins while they are seated or in a vessel