Knots are an important tool in any sailor’s toolbox because they can be used to tie two lines together or to hold something together. Knots are important simply because they can be used for a variety of purposes.
There are many different types of knots, and each has a specific purpose. The most common types of knots are the bowline, the clove hitch, and the half hitch. The bowline is used to tie a line into a fixed loop. The clove hitch is used to tie a line to an object, and the half hitch is a simple and quick knot used to tie a temporary loop.
The half hitch is one of the most basic knots, yet it is also one of the most versatile and useful. A half hitch is often used by fishermen and boaters. It is created by passing the working end of a line around an object, then making a loop and passing the working end through the loop.
Learning how to tie a half hitch is one of the best investments a sailor can make.
To Tie a Half Hitch, Follow These Steps:
First, find an object you would like to use as an anchor for your knot. Commonly in sailing, this can be a dock pylon or horn clear, buoy, fender, or any other short-term objects.
Second, extend the working end of the rope around the anchor. For context, the working end of the rope is considered the end that does the tying, and the standing end/part will be the end of the rope that ideally will not move. The working end of the rope is typically the shorter end.
Start by taking a length of rope and holding one end just slightly longer than the other. If using natural fiber rope, this can help make it easier to tighten the knot. If using nylon rope, it does not matter much what the rope length is, but it does need to be even.
Cross the working end over the standing part, and then double back through the newly created loop right next to your anchor point. When this is finished, it is considered to be one half hitch
Congratulations! This is the most difficult step of tying a half hitch and if you can complete this, you will have no trouble finishing your knot.
If your knot looks like this, you may pull it tight by tugging the working end of the rope up and to the right(pictured right) while also holding the fixed end (pictured left), then continue on to the next step. If your knot does not look like this repeat the previous step and ensure that the working end of your rope goes through the correct loop.
If you tightened the initial knot correctly, it will look like this
To finish the knot, you are going to repeat the previous 2-3 steps, but with a twist: your new anchor point is the the standing line, not the previous anchor point.
By adding a second hitch, you are increasing the structural integrity of the knot.
When I use half hitches on my sailboat it is usually to secure fender buoys or to tie the cover down, and I will use 2-3 of these but typically no more than 3. If you ever feel the need to use more than 3 half hitches, it is probably better to switch to use a bowline.
Click here to learn how to tie a bowline.