Page 65 - The Knot Bible

Pile hitch
KNOT SCORE
The pile hitch follows the same broad principle as the lighterman’s hitch Strength
in using the weight of the object to jam the turn against the post. Like the Security
lighterman’s hitch, it can be tied with a load on the line – although untying Diffi culty Tying
it will be somewhat harder. This is a temporary knot, however, and should Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
be replaced with something more secure for the longer term.

1 Put a bight in the line – if close to 2 Pass the bight around the mooring 3 Loop the bight over the top of the
an end, place the standing part point and under the standing part. post or bollard.
under the working end.

4 Tighten the knot. If the KNOT KNOW-HOW
bight is placed near the
top of the post, the knot It’s impossible to tell how many knots
can be undone with a exist. The Ashley Book of Knots claims to
well-placed kick, even contain 3,800 – although this includes
while under load. many repeats as well as illustrations of
related tools and equipment. The true
number of knots in the book is much less
than that. On the other hand, hundreds
of ‘new’ knots have been invented or
rediscovered since Ashley’s time, so the
real life total may well be much higher.