Page 313 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

1790. A safe STAKE HITCH of simple construction that is distantly

related to the TIMBER HITCH O~1665), consists of a SINGLE HITCH

around the stake and a twisted loop in the end, which is dropped

,
, , over the top of the stake.
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1791. "MOORING HITCH" appears to be a fairly old name for the

MAGNUS or ROLLING HITCH when made fast to a post. The merit of

the hitch is that, when snugly applied, it will not slip down the post.

Anyone who has found himself at full tide, after a hard day's fishing,

with his painter fast to a stake four or five feet below high-water

mark, will be inspired to learn this knot. First make a round turn

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below the standing part of the rope and then add a SINGLE HITCH

above it.

1792. Several snubbing turns are taken with a warp around a pile

and the headway of a ship is gradually checked before the warp is

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, .
IIi," made fast.
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1793. Seized round tums. When the ship has been brought to a

standstill, if the hawser is a large one, the end may be merely seized

or stopped to the standing part.

1794. Round turns hitched. A medium-sized hawser, or one that

179~ is pliant, is generally half hitched before seizing.

1795. The BACKHANDED MOORING HITCH. A single turn is first made

around the post. When all headway is checked, a flake from the right

is dragged forward under the standing part and turned over the top

of the post without twisting it. The first left-hand bight is next lifted

( directly over the post without turning it. Then the next right-hand

c. bight is dragged under the standing part and turned over the post

C as before. Alternate with left- and right-hand bights until the cable

8 is exhausted, then stop the end to the standing part. It may take

several hands to do this in very heavy stuff.

',95 1796. The WET WEATHER HITCH is a circus-tent STAKE HITCH

A
that has already been described in Chapter 2. A SINGLE HITCH is first

1791 taken around the post, several hands haul in the slack while one man,

, I .

, II/ at the end, holds what is given. The end is backed around the stake
\1 \" I , , I{I
1\ I and a SLIPPED HALF HITCH is added. If the rope shrinks in the rain

, , ,II
"

III one man can slack away and make fast alone.
\ , •
I , I

1797. The BACKHANDED HITCH is a sailor's knot very similar to the

circus hitch just shown. Instead of the SLIPPED HALF HITCH, Two

HALF HITCHES completes the knot. This is easily held and made fast

at the exact point where the hawser is checked.

1798. The AWNING KNOT is an uncompleted MIDSHIPMAN'S HITCH

(~ 1799). The second turn is carefully jammed so that the knot will

hold until jerked or jarred, when it will spill instantly. It is used in

roping off sections of decks and as a temporary tent STAKE HITCH

on marquees, etc.

1799. The MIDSHIPMAN'S HITCH is the same as the foregoing with

the addition of a HALF HITCH. It is a fixed knot that holds well and

has a variety of uses.

1800. The ADJUSTABLE HITCH is based on the MAGNUS or ROLLING

179') 801
HITCH and is closely related to the MIDSHIPMAN'S KNOT, the differ-

ence being in the arrangement of the second turn. If the concluding

hitch is reversed there will be less tendency to twist. Slide the knot

either way and it should remain without rendering.

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