Page 58 - The Knot Bible
P. 58

HITCHES

         Stopped half hitch
                                                                            KNOT SCORE
         No matter how many turns you put in some lines – particularly thicker   Strength
         lines which are less likely to lie fl at – they will always slip. The solution is   Security
         to ‘stop’ the end with a piece of twine. Combined with a half hitch or two,   Diffi culty Tying
         this makes a very secure attachment and was often used to attach blocks   Diffi culty Untying
                                                                            Usefulness
         in the standing rigging of large sailing ships.
























         1 Place the standing end of the line   2 Take a turn with the working end   3 Add another half hitch. Leaving
         on the spar or rigging and ‘stop’ it   and tuck it under itself to form the   a gap between the hitches will
         with a length of twine. This can   fi rst half hitch.             spread the load and prevent the line
         simply be a few turns tied with a                                slipping. Tighten the knot.
         reef knot (page 156).
































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