Clove hitch
A quick hitch to a post or rail, easy to adjust: for fenders and temporary ties.
- Use
- Boat and kayak
- Lines
- Rope
- Difficulty
- Easy
White: the standing part. Orange: the end you work with. Mirror flips the drawing for tying left-handed.
Steps
Take the end round the post or rail once.
Cross it over the standing part and take it round a second time.
Tuck the end under that second turn, where it crosses, so it comes out beside the standing part.
Pull both ends to tighten.
Tips
- It can slip or work loose when the load moves, for example a boat at a dock.
Sources
Each step was checked against these written guides:
- Discover Boating, boating knots
- SAIL magazine, 7 essential knots for sailors
- Practical Boat Owner, 7 sailing knots every boater should know
- Scout Life, How to tie the 7 basic Scout knots
Drawings and animation by Fishwake. We give no breaking-strength figures: published numbers differ with the line and the test.
