International Guild of Knot Tyers Forum
General => Practical Knots => Topic started by: Uncle Monkey on July 22, 2020, 11:52:00 AM
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Hi I'm a newbie here so please be gentle with me if I get some terminology wrong! I'm after some advice on the best knot to use when tying off the middle of a rope to a pole or bar where the end of the pole is NOT available.
My specific scenario is tying up my canoe to the rails that run along the side of many canals in the UK. My painter/float line is tied to the bow end and then fed under the central thwart of my canoe. At this point I have about 15 feet of loose line left and would like to tie off my canoe to the bank rail using the middle of the rope thus holding the centre side of my canoe tight to the bank. This tends to be for quick pit stops so I don't really want to feed 15 feet of spare line behind the rail before tying off. But nonetheless I would like something good and secure so I don't see my canoe floating away while I am on the tow path!
Hope that makes sense. I am sure there must be a simple solution but I am struggling to find it. Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Mark
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Considerations: Rope Choice(stiffness/elasticity, frictions ), diameter ratio to host spar, angles of pull, if quick release is needed
(would be looking for ROUND host of mooring spar for proper rope locking and 'strength' etc.)
Basic tried and trues: 3x 180 arcs of RT(Round Turn) types(uncrossed turns) or same of a 3 arcs crossed into Clove types.
Would ALWAYS look to add stopper(s) to limit ANY temptation to walk/unless boiling down to immediate usage in slip/quick release
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Lean and Clean: Round Turn + 2 HHs(Half Hitches)
Harder lock: 1st HH thru bottom arc for Anchor/Fisherman's + 2nd HH
(In stiffer/larger lines ABoK shows older manuals called Round Turn + 2 HHs as anchor hitch when Fisherman's too hard/stiff to assert into rope)
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Bit more complicated is to cross /'frapping' turn after 2nd arc to make Clove base.
>>would still prefer Stoppers for long term
AM NOT A BOATER, but would THINK Bag Knot would do fine here and extra security
(and is a fave slip form for me, especially if can get Nip on slip to be at opposite side of host moor mount than imposed load pull as input).
Some show Clove made in SPart(Standing Part), WE(Working End) around host, then bight of WE as host for Clove in SPART
>>would think is more for getting ready to go, than overnight thru storm strategy tho.
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These are all continuous direction turns whether crossed or not
>>so are more subject to walking than Backhand base knots (Muenter, Cow etc.), so always look to give limiter/stopper and 2nd as keeper to the lock of 1st HH(as like hitch pin lock and cotter key keeper)
Boat is different problem than most;
random angles of pulls and tensions with tides, waves, winds etc. testing knot in ways not usually seen in rigging etc.
Whether secured on anchor or moored.
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Thanks for the advice. I was essentially doing 1 or 2 loops plus a couple of half hitches anyway but it didn't feel very elegant!
Cheers
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I second the anchor/fisherman's bend recommendation. It's easy to learn, easy to tie, and attractive when done (elegant!) .
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Hi I'm a newbie here so please be gentle with me if I get some terminology wrong! I'm after some advice on the best knot to use when tying off the middle of a rope to a pole or bar where the end of the pole is NOT available.
My specific scenario is tying up my canoe to the rails that run along the side of many canals in the UK. My painter/float line is tied to the bow end and then fed under the central thwart of my canoe. At this point I have about 15 feet of loose line left and would like to tie off my canoe to the bank rail using the middle of the rope thus holding the centre side of my canoe tight to the bank. This tends to be for quick pit stops so I don't really want to feed 15 feet of spare line behind the rail before tying off. But nonetheless I would like something good and secure so I don't see my canoe floating away while I am on the tow path!
Hope that makes sense. I am sure there must be a simple solution but I am struggling to find it. Any advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Mark
You have many options for doubling up the rope and hitching off. A timber hitch on the bight is very fast:
https://notableknotindex.webs.com/timberhitch.html (second image).
A midspan sheet bend can also be used:
https://notableknotindex.webs.com/midspan.html