Best knot for tying stern line to rocks when med mooring

[moseriw]

cancelled

[moseriw]

So, clearly a bowline is not the correct knot for this application..

Yes it is but you should do a real large bow and it would be good if you turn it around the rock twice.

Large bow means when you loosing it you can hold the line with one hand before the knot and untie it with the other hand.

I am in Croatia and we all do it this way without any troubles.

Keep in mind: if you are getting into trouble you can drop the lines and pick them up later IF you prepared it ondeck

[goboatingnow]

Two half hitches for me. I stay on the boat anyway. SWMBO does all the rock bits. !!! She rows in so things can get interesting !!! I miss the kids. !!

I chucked my tape and got two lengths of 50 M floating yellow line.

[Clivevon]

One of the downsides of chartering instead of owning is how poorly equipped charter boats are - frequently just the bare basics. I used to carry a short length of chain & a long orange (floating) polypropylene rope for this sort of situation.

A good simple knot designed for releasing under load with 100% security is a tugboat hitch or lightermans hitch - controlled from the cleat or winch on the boat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDJZ...=AnimatedKnots

[Palarran]

Originally Posted by GEH

I used a sacrificial loop of line tied in a loop around the rock using a double fisherman’s knot then tied the mooring line into it using a round turn & two half hitches. The loop could be made from scrap mooring lines so chafe damage by the rock did not spoil the mooring line. The round turn and two half hitches can be undone under load.

Me too. But depending on how much load is being pulled on the bitter end I might just use a lotsoknot. It's quick and easy.

[RiverRat37]

Originally Posted by StuM

Or then there's the Siberian Hitch if you want to snug up to whatever you are tying to:
https://www.animatedknots.com/siberian-hitch-knot

This from the discussion after the animation of the Siberian Hitch:

Security: The Siberian Hitch Knot is only moderately secure. While excellent for creating a ridge line to support a tent, it should never be trusted for more critical loads.

[AZUS]

We’re in the Greek Ionian now for the summer. Most people we see use a slip knot - actually they generally use a floating line with a spliced loop, and flip the line thru so they have a movable loop. That conforms to any size rock they put it over.

We actually use an 8’ heavy bike cable attached to the floating line with a shackle. We can flip it over a rock, or unshackle the cable to place around a tree.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by AZUS

We’re in the Greek Ionian now for the summer. Most people we see use a slip knot - actually they generally use a floating line with a spliced loop, and flip the line thru so they have a movable loop. That conforms to any size rock they put it over.



We actually use an 8’ heavy bike cable attached to the floating line with a shackle. We can flip it over a rock, or unshackle the cable to place around a tree.

I see that but doesn’t that means bringing the whole line ashore so the end can be threaded through.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Clivevon

A good simple knot designed for releasing under load with 100% security is a tugboat hitch or lightermans hitch - controlled from the cleat or winch on the boat.

I use one all the time when towing, but it's a bit tricky to tie round a tall tree

[SaltyMetals]

I agree w Sailcrazy (#7). I have had too many lines chafe through on sharp rocks so have 3 metres (10ft) of chain on the end of my stern line with a snap shackle on the end. Quick, easy, no chafe. NB: best if the chain is SS otherwise you will eventually get a rusty mess in yr rope locker.

This way, whoever goes ashore to secure the line does not need to remember a fancy knot. I have found that under pressure some who can usually do a bowline can get it wrong.

I do my shore lines in a different order since it is difficult to swim ashore with a line which is already attached to the boat. I set my anchor and then I send someone ashore with all the line in the tender and let them chose the rock/tree while i drift out towards my anchor. Once the line is secured i back up towards the shore and meet them in the tender, tensioning the line on a primary winch.
Andrew

[acunningham]

For those in the Mediterranean, how long a floating line would you suggest buying for a medium sized boat (15m/50' long, 2.15m draft)?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by acunningham

For those in the Mediterranean, how long a floating line would you suggest buying for a medium sized boat (15m/50' long, 2.15m draft)?

2 lines of 50 metres. You’ll need two to stop you swinging in crowded situations

[acunningham]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

2 lines of 50 metres. You’ll need two to stop you swinging in crowded situations

Thanks! Presumably polypropylene is an appropriate material? What diameter would you suggest for a 15m (50') boat of around 22 tonnes displacement?

[MartinR]

Originally Posted by duetto

Take the rope twice around the boulder then secure with 2 half hitches. A benefit is the half hitches are secure and easy to remove later. They hitches won't tighten up under load and can be undone under load if needed, then ease the line off the boulder

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by acunningham

Thanks! Presumably polypropylene is an appropriate material? What diameter would you suggest for a 15m (50') boat of around 22 tonnes displacement?

What’s used here in Greece is almost universally a polypropylene hollow braid yellow or orange line , it’s lightweight and floats and colour stops idiot jet skiers running into it

It’s a bit “stretchy “. So for 50 footer recommend a minimum of 20mm dia

Available in most chandlers fir €2-3 euros a metre. Haggle