Page 79 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Pick up the end. Twist it around so the end is
Figure 3-12B. Form a loop and pull both ends of the
strop through the loop.
Figure 3-12C. The Icicle Hitch with halyard (see text).
Figure 3-12D. The finished hitch.
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under the standing part and next to the beginning
of the turns. Reach through the loop thus formed
and pull both ends of the strop up through the loop
(Figure 3-12B). To draw up, work all the slack out
of the turns, then pull on each end in turn.
To tie the Icicle Hitch with a halyard (Figure
3-12C), make three to five turns with the end, then
cross back toward the beginning of the turns. Pass
the end down behind the hitchee, then over the
standing part. Pass it up behind the hitchee, then
down alongside the standing part, under itself.
Figure 3-12D shows the finished knot.
The Axle Hitch
Scene: The hold of a ship or the underside of a car
or some other god-awful, inaccessible spot. It’s hard
enough just to crawl or climb in there, and you don’t
have the time, inclination, or free hand to make a
hitch while you’re there. Fine—just pass a bight
around and bring it back to a more comfortable
location (Figure 3-13). Ah, that’s better. Now pass
the end around a couple of times as shown, add a
Bowline or Rolling Hitch to secure the end, and hoist
or tow away.
Figure 3-13. The Axle Hitch comes to your aid in
cramped quarters.