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Best knot?


Krusty

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What I call a clove hitch is forming 2 loops, then popping them over the bollard with the lower one uppermost (if you get my meaning!) It may depend on the nature of the rope and the diameter of the bollard but under strong tension I have never known it to slip. Mind you, a knot that is perfectly adequate for inland waterways might not withstand say a night at anchor in a rough sea. But then again there is no need to to use an ocean-proof knot on a canal!

 

Yeah, that's the one. Perhaps its ability to slip depends on the rope type? That would explain the differences of opinion.

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It depends rather on the direction of pull. As long as it's in line with the standing part it will hold. If it deviates too far it will spill. I would never use it for mooring as the forces are too variable.

 

It's great strength is that it's very easy to take up slack.

 

For further information Ashley is good on the clove hitch.

 

And, of course, a round turn and two half hitches, one of the most useful knots ever is properly tied with a clove hitch around the bight.

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All my knots do that captain.gif

Yes its simply a cocked up version of most of the knots already mentioned and known locally in Bognor as the (Mungle knot), no good for tying up your pants though unless your suffering a touch of the runs and need to release them quickly.

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seem to mainly use the Lighterman's when on the cut, though always good to have some other knots up your sleeve.... Round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, bowline and reef knot have all come in handy at some stage over last few boating trips. Making own monkey fist has also been useful, perhaps a more specialised knot and not often needed!!

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Spurlash... First tripper trick that one! Best one is asking the deck cadet to go down the Engine room for " a long stand" whilst sending the Engine Cadet to the deck store for "the sky hook". Trouble is they often tumble the game if you ask them to get a "tub of elbow greese".

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Spurlash... First tripper trick that one! Best one is asking the deck cadet to go down the Engine room for " a long stand" whilst sending the Engine Cadet to the deck store for "the sky hook". Trouble is they often tumble the game if you ask them to get a "tub of elbow grees

 

I once sent a young apprentice to Woolworths for some "sky hooks". The trouble was he came back about 45 minutes later.....with some.

They were something to do with holding curtains up.

 

I just said "Thanks very much".

 

Rob....

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I can tie a clove hitch behind my back and/or with my eyes shut, preformed and dropped over a stake or bollard or formed from two swift 'half-hitches' it is the quickest and often the 'best knot' for me. Assuming suitable rope it will hold even when the pull is parallel to a stake. That's how I remove my stakes, by pulling on the clove hitch, if necesary using a 4"x2" lever. Then push the two ends and it releases.

 

Many knots, bends etc. that work as claimed with traditional rope may fail with modern, artiicial fibre rope. e.g. They may initially slip but jamb after repeated tension.

 

For longer term mooring the Boy Scout's favourite round turn and two half hitches (clove hitch) is good in most situations. Alternatively, attaching a rope to a tee stud (cleat) a couple of turns then a clove hitch over the horns.

 

alan

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Hah

 

That has brightened an otherwise awful day

 

Just for a moment

That was also a moment where I saw the star that says you've contributed next to the thread and thought "did I really have something to add about knots? I know absolutely nothing about them and have nothing to say"

 

I hope your day has got better and nothing is seriously wrong hug.gif

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Where possible I always use the boatman' hitch. I start with a round turn which more or less locks the rope to dolly, stud or bollard, then quickly add the turns to make a couple of figures of eight. I've often found it necessary to re-tie a boat when working on the cabin side and use this as standard. Years ago one customer was concerned that I hadn't tied an actual knot and was loath to leave his boat at the end of the job left tied in that way. I left him to it, I imagine he tied the frequently seen jumble of knitting. I've never had one slip...yet!

 

Cheers

 

Dave

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I have been watching animated knots , problem I have is I forget from practising which I get right to real life efforts which I get wrong.

Still practise as they say makes perfect so maybe one day perfection will be mine....hmmm

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>>For longer term mooring the Boy Scout's favourite round turn and two half hitches (clove hitch) is good in most situations. Alternatively, attaching a rope to a tee stud (cleat) a couple of turns then a clove hitch over the horns.

 

alan

 

I think there is confusion here between half-hitches and a clove hitch -- two of the first aren't the same as one of the second.

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I think there is confusion here between half-hitches and a clove hitch -- two of the first aren't the same as one of the second.

 

They are if they're tied in the same direction. (Bit like finding the sheet bend in a bowline!)

 

Iain

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I always use a clove hitch on the centre line if I tie it as it is really quick to drop over the bollard, having said that I don't often tie the centre line and if i do its only for a short while, may be while i walk to the bow to get a bowline.

 

Clove hitches are very quick to make, but they can start slipping undone under strain or jamming up too tight to get off again without cutting the rope depending on the direction the rope leads away from whatever it's round and the position of the "crossover" in the hitch relative to the standing part.

By far the worst feature of the hitch if used to secure a mooring line, particularly when its temporary when working a lock, is that it can't be easily or quickly taken off while under strain. The best type of hitch the one that's used by professional boatmen on every different type of vessel I've ever seen, from narrowboats to ships. I don't think it's got a name, but I'll have a go at describing how to make it. Hold the rope in both hands and drop the first turn onto the bollard as if you're going to make a clove hitch, reverse the direction of the rope tail round the bollard and the standing part and take it round the bollard in the opposite direction back to the standing part. With the hand not holding the rope tail, pull a bight under the standing part and drop it over the bollard, this makes a second reversal of direction round the standing part and leaves the rope tail passing under the standing part to your other hand. Now make a third reversal of direction with the tail and then put on a final one (or two with light rope) turn round the bollard. That hitch will take anything up to the breaking strain of the rope without slipping, will never tighten up on itself and jam, and can be taken off when under even maximum strain.

 

PS. In referring to a "bowline" here ,I know that you mean a headrope and not the bowline that's used to put an eye on the end of a rope, but it reminded me that Trent boatmen used to refer to an eye made that way as a Goole splice.

Edited by tony dunkley
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. Hold the rope in both hands and drop the first turn onto the bollard as if you're going to make a clove hitch, reverse the direction of the rope tail round the bollard and the standing part and take it round the bollard in the opposite direction back to the standing part. With the hand not holding the rope tail, pull a bight under the standing part and drop it over the bollard, this makes a second reversal of direction round the standing part and leaves the rope tail passing under the standing part to your other hand. Now make a third reversal of direction with the tail and then put on a final one (or two with light rope) turn round the bollard. That hitch will take anything up to the breaking strain of the rope without slipping, will never tighten up on itself and jam, and can be taken off when under even maximum strain.

 

 

Sounds like the lightermans hitch?

 

http://www.animatedknots.com/lightermans/

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Sounds like the lightermans hitch?

 

http://www.animatedknots.com/lightermans/

 

Had a look at that . . . but that way of starting with one or two turns on first was only used if you were making off the hitch with strain on the rope after first having to check it while running out under strain, instead of just putting the rope onto a bollard as when tying up.

Edited by tony dunkley
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