Can Someone Recommend a Good Knot to Me ?

[rebel heart]

I can tie bowlines, rounds and two half hitches, and reefs and squares. These have done me fairly well around the boat. But a classic problem I run into is needing to make a loop (say around two poles) and be able to "cinch" the knot down without losing tension in the lines.

Even for a reef knot you end up gaining a little slack when you toss in the second half hitch.

Edit: And I need to be able to untie it too, since it will be under load once cinched down.

Edit again: I tried a bowline on one end, then a loop and two half hitches on the other, using the loop to keep the tension on before the two half hitches. Works okay, but I'm looking for the type of tension I can get on a cleat, for example.

[Ishmael]

Trucker's Hitch | How to tie a Trucker's Hitch | Boating Knots

[Astrid]

tautline hitch perhaps:

Tautline Hitch

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Ishmael

Trucker's Hitch | How to tie a Trucker's Hitch | Boating Knots

I've thought about that one; I should learn it. It just looks so damn intimidating, but I know I'll get an extra emboss on my man-card if I can tie a trucker's hitch in a jiffy.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Astrid

tautline hitch perhaps:

Tautline Hitch

I think that when you put enough pressure on the line it will cause those hitches to slip along, if that makes sense. Thanks for helping me out regardless!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I think that when you put enough pressure on the line it will cause those hitches to slip along, if that makes sense. Thanks for helping me out regardless!

No, try it, it will work for that! And it's a cinch to tie -- it's just a rolling hitch without the tuck.

[MarkJ]

Truckers hitch.

But the one shown in the website is wrong (too nautical!). Go to a truckers website and get what the 'real' truckers use.
Its basically just a thumb knot in your standing part and the fall goes through it and you put a few half hitches to secure it, slippery hitches better

[MarkJ]

Here it is

[svcambria]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I think that when you put enough pressure on the line it will cause those hitches to slip along, if that makes sense. Thanks for helping me out regardless!

Just keep putting half-hitches on it...
Had no idea what these knots were called tautlines - live and learn!

Michael

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Truckers hitch.

But the one shown in the website is wrong (too nautical!). Go to a truckers website and get what the 'real' truckers use.
Its basically just a thumb knot in your standing part and the fall goes through it and you put a few half hitches to secure it, slippery hitches better

I figured out the "too-nautical" one after an hour of practicing! Regardless I think that trucker's hitch is the way to go. What a kick ass knot.

[svcambria]

Ye olde (non-nautical) trucker's hitch:

Truckers Hitch

Absolutely great when you have to get some tension on a line.

Michael

[capngeo]

Half sheep-shank with a safety, use the loop as a 2:1 block, then double back with a couple half hitches.... Banjo-string tight right there!

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by Astrid

tautline hitch perhaps:

Tautline Hitch

I agree with Astrid. I was going suggest a variation of a Prusik knot and that's essentially what the tautline hitch is.



-Sven

[SaltyMonkey]

The only knots you need to know are the alpine butterfly - for loops (as many as needed), for bends, oh...for just about anything really - and the Adjustable Grip Hitch. For added bending pleasure I admit a fondness for the remaining family of overhands - the Zeppelin, the Ashley, and the Hunter.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I figured out the "too-nautical" one after an hour of practicing! Regardless I think that trucker's hitch is the way to go. What a kick ass knot.

And you can add another turn for more purchase. Beyond 2, more does not help.

I Use this one to tie stuff on the roof rack all the time.