Clove Hitch

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Clarky

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Well last week I was sat in this montain refuge in the Alps reading sailing today and saw the article about the clove hitch in the inside rear cover by Colin Jarman.
This chappie obviously doesnt climb as he insists that the clove hitch is a knot designed to have both ends loaded .
Well, as all us climbers know we use the clove hitch all the time and only load one end and sometimes subject it to fairly massive forces ,never heard of any problems.
So I would just like to correct that article for you nautical chaps,you can use the clove hitch to tie fenders on and it wont slip.
Chers,
IC
 
What the clove hitch doesn't like is to have the load removed and replaced as happens with fenders and a rolling boat. If leaving the clove hitch as the only attachment for your fenders for weeks on end you may be disappointed.
 
Welcome to the forum, although you do sound a wee bit sensible for Shufflebum.

Haven't climbed for years, but I used to use the clove hitch but can't remember what for - ice axe belay perhaps? Used bowline mostly, as easy to undo after being under load. Oh yes, and figure of 8. And the Prussik loop, and the sheepshank, and the sheet bend, and, for the slings, the fisherman's knot.

Now, where's my biscuit tin of Tricouni.....
 
If you put a turn around the lower lifeline before putting a clove hitch around the upper life line, the hitch doesn't come under full load, the load is mainly on the lower line, the fender less likely to swing and the pull on the staunchion reduced.
Well it works for me.
 
There seems to be a rhythm to tying a round turn and 2 half hitches that isn't there with a clove hitch.
Sounds daft I know, but you can clap 2 or 3 fenders on in no time as a result.
And they're still there an hour later. Bonus.
 
I agree with you as long as there is constant tension. With fenders and the like. they bob up and down etc removing the tension and allowing the bight to slacken. As always the choice of your bend or hitch is always crucial to the application.

Regards.

Peter.
 
If underway, the fenders should have been stashed, if getting prepared to berth they should have been handed not yet tied but ready, no?
Anyway agree that clove hitching fenders' is cool for the very short term only, even with a half hitch chaser, they are still prone to slip. Highwaymans hitch is faster to tie and immediate release has it's benefits, but for wobbly fingerberths / wavy harbours for anything other than a couple of hours and unattended then r.t.2.h.h. , blimey it's your boat! why risk it.
 
I agree. Have never had any problems with clove hitches myself. Think maybe the naysayers just do not understand the relevance of diameters to hitches holding so come to grief.

Perhaps they are rather like the sailor who visited a prostitute "It's knot hard, it's knot in and you're knot getting yer money back". They don't understand the mechanics of the process.

John
 
rope on rope neeeeeaahhhhhhhhh maybe,
but rope on guardwire naahhh, average yachts fender line is what 6mm - 8mm, it's just not skinny enough to hold efficiently for sustained working action ie: the fender doing its job. It's been a long established fact, like a single sheet bend, ya just cant trust it
 
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