Benny81
New member
Hi, My dinghy came of its trot rope over the weekend. What's the best knot(s) to use? Any help greatly appreciated
Dinghy trot knot
- Thread starter Benny81
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davidej
Well-known member
If in doubt, use a bowline.
Benny81
New member
Thanks Davidej. I don't think it'll grip the trot rope?
Refueler
Well-known member
Depends on the rope in use ... some of the modern 'shiny' ropes today - when load comes off repeatedly - the bowline can become loose and insecure.
For those - I prefer a clove hitch followed by one or two half hitches to secure the loose end.
Seeing your second post - and now understanding that your dinghy painter is being made to a standing trot .... this further cements my suggestion of clove hitch followed by two half hitches to secure loose end.
Benny81
New member
Thanks Refueler I'll try that, and yes it's a modern synthetic rope
Sorry if my post wasn't clear
Sorry if my post wasn't clear
Refueler
Well-known member
The two half hitches are made back on the dinghy painter to lock the clove hitch and secure the loose end - not the trot
LittleSister
Well-known member
I tend to favour a round turn and two half-hitches, as it's dead easy to tie (and untie) without mistakes, even in the dark and with cold hands, and unlike the bowline can be easily undone when under load.
Preferably tie the painter to, or though, a ring or other fitting at the end of the trot line, but if it needs to be at an intermediate position along the trot line then consider
a)
i) forming an eye in the trot line at the appropriate point; or
ii) tying a supplementary line with an eye in the 'middle' alongside (and secured to) the trot line, to the ring/fittings at either end of the trot line; or
iii) adding a loop at the appropriate point formed by e.g. a short length of line secured either end by a rolling hitch (plus both loose ends of line whipped to the standing part, or at least a half hitch after the rolling hitch).
or
b) have two long painters attached to the dinghy, so that these can be tied to the rings either end and the dinghy sits in the appropriate place along the trot line. (At least one of these painters will need to have extra length so you can reach the rings both ends from the dinghy, plus a means of reducing its length to leave the dinghy in the appropriate position.)
Just ideas. There's more than one way to skin a cat!
Preferably tie the painter to, or though, a ring or other fitting at the end of the trot line, but if it needs to be at an intermediate position along the trot line then consider
a)
i) forming an eye in the trot line at the appropriate point; or
ii) tying a supplementary line with an eye in the 'middle' alongside (and secured to) the trot line, to the ring/fittings at either end of the trot line; or
iii) adding a loop at the appropriate point formed by e.g. a short length of line secured either end by a rolling hitch (plus both loose ends of line whipped to the standing part, or at least a half hitch after the rolling hitch).
or
b) have two long painters attached to the dinghy, so that these can be tied to the rings either end and the dinghy sits in the appropriate place along the trot line. (At least one of these painters will need to have extra length so you can reach the rings both ends from the dinghy, plus a means of reducing its length to leave the dinghy in the appropriate position.)
Just ideas. There's more than one way to skin a cat!
dunedin
Well-known member
For an inflatable my approach is always two painters - one spliced the the eye in the middle, and a thinner one tied to bridle to the two towing eyes. Both always tied on.
Originally it was when we tended to tow the dinghy, as the central patch started to weaken slightly. But now continued to keep secure, always double tied.
Originally it was when we tended to tow the dinghy, as the central patch started to weaken slightly. But now continued to keep secure, always double tied.
thinwater
Well-known member
Brainstorming...
- A prusik hitch and a carabiner might be faster and at least as secure.
- A rolling hitch or camel hitch with a half hitch on the free end would be my first reflex. Very fast.
Neeves
Well-known member
Pedant
Should it be a Prussic knot, not a prussic knot? As it should be a Barber haul not a barber haul?
Is it important?
Do you use a delta anchor, rocna anchor or a Supreme or Bugel?
jonathan
Should it be a Prussic knot, not a prussic knot? As it should be a Barber haul not a barber haul?
Is it important?
Do you use a delta anchor, rocna anchor or a Supreme or Bugel?
jonathan
dansaskip
Well-known member
Think I would use a rolling hitch as thinwater suggests
thinwater
Well-known member
Pedant
Should it be a Prussic knot, not a prussic knot? As it should be a Barber haul not a barber haul?
Is it important?
Do you use a delta anchor, rocna anchor or a Supreme or Bugel?
jonathan
The problem with being pedantic is that it never ends.
a. It is a Prusik hitch, not a knot. A bowline, for example is a knot, while a clove hitch is a hitch, because it requires an object to hold form around.
b. It is spelled Prusik, because it is named for Karl Prusik.
c. Yes, I was sloppy, and like Barberhauler, it should have been capitalized. However, when used as a verb (to prusik) it is not capitalized.
Refueler
Well-known member
Rolling Hitch is designed as a one way resistance hitch ... it can soon become a mess when stressed the wrong direction.
Keep it simple ... I suggested Clove Hitch backed up by couple of half hitches to secure free end. Another suggested Round Turn and two half Hitches - also an excellent choice.
Both are secure ... easy and quick to do ...
The Half Hitches, Clove Hitch, Round Turn and Two Half Hitches have with the Bowline been mainstay use for centuries ....
Keep it simple ... I suggested Clove Hitch backed up by couple of half hitches to secure free end. Another suggested Round Turn and two half Hitches - also an excellent choice.
Both are secure ... easy and quick to do ...
The Half Hitches, Clove Hitch, Round Turn and Two Half Hitches have with the Bowline been mainstay use for centuries ....
Graham_Wright
Well-known member
Fisherman's bend. Won't come undone (often, even when you want it to !)
Refueler
Well-known member
I think one factor needs to be considered ..... if I understand OP's need ... its for a secure but easily applied ... easily released secure hitch as the dinghy is i n regular use ... and we have all had those days when weather / sea state is not so good and faffing about with fancy knots is not exactly a good idea.
On the subject of the words Hitch and Knot ..... as a young kid .. it was put to me :
Horses get HITCHED to a buggy .... meaning Hitch is to an object.
Fishing line gets all knotted and a mess ... meaning knots are generally without a non rope object ...
Of course there is the Bend .... which can apply as per Hitch .. as a seaman bends on a rope.
On the subject of the words Hitch and Knot ..... as a young kid .. it was put to me :
Horses get HITCHED to a buggy .... meaning Hitch is to an object.
Fishing line gets all knotted and a mess ... meaning knots are generally without a non rope object ...
Of course there is the Bend .... which can apply as per Hitch .. as a seaman bends on a rope.
Farmer Piles
Well-known member
Quite agree with the KISS approach. A clove hitch with maybe even a further half hitch on the trot and a couple of half hitches to secure. Maybe buy a softer more grippy rope for the bow rope?
As above - clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, bowline for most things. Plus a reef knot and maybe a sheet bend for joining.
For years before the advent of ratchet straps the go-to for securing loads of bales was the cow hitch or truckers hitch. I can do them in my sleep. Sometimes even putting two in to double the purchase and pull.
As above - clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, bowline for most things. Plus a reef knot and maybe a sheet bend for joining.
For years before the advent of ratchet straps the go-to for securing loads of bales was the cow hitch or truckers hitch. I can do them in my sleep. Sometimes even putting two in to double the purchase and pull.
Refueler
Well-known member
OK ... Clove Hitch can tighten and seize when left long term / have tension snatching at it. At times it can lead to the use of sharp knife to get free ....
I am dead against Cow Hitch normally as its what it says ... a COW hitch and has very few uses in serious rope handlers inventory. BUT it can be used in this by making sure at least 2 half hitches securing free end are made back onto the stranding part. Beware - without 2 HH to secure - a Cow hitch was based on halving a rope in use such a Bulls Ring to give two ropes to control if needed ... not to secure and only use one rope end.
I am dead against Cow Hitch normally as its what it says ... a COW hitch and has very few uses in serious rope handlers inventory. BUT it can be used in this by making sure at least 2 half hitches securing free end are made back onto the stranding part. Beware - without 2 HH to secure - a Cow hitch was based on halving a rope in use such a Bulls Ring to give two ropes to control if needed ... not to secure and only use one rope end.
Benny81
New member
Thanks for all of your replies. Yes I may replace the painter with a softer rope....
I have retied the dinghy using a round turn and 2 half hitches onto the standing trot and checking it 24 hours later it seems perfectly secure
I'll experiment with the clove hitch and half hitches on the painter as it seems to me it would be more secure and I can't always check it all that regularly
I have retied the dinghy using a round turn and 2 half hitches onto the standing trot and checking it 24 hours later it seems perfectly secure
I'll experiment with the clove hitch and half hitches on the painter as it seems to me it would be more secure and I can't always check it all that regularly
Refueler
Well-known member
The Round turn and Two is fine .... its simple to do ... it does not usually tighten up so you cannot undo ...
I always believe - once you find successful way - stick with it ... too many examples from others of fancy other crap going wrong.
I always believe - once you find successful way - stick with it ... too many examples from others of fancy other crap going wrong.
Farmer Piles
Well-known member
Exactly what I always did, put a turn over the top loop. Securely held many tens of thousands of straw and hay bales only single axle trailers this way on some very steep slopes here in Cornwall. Never lost a load. I would disagree with the "serious rope handlers" quote. If done properly it is a quick and sound way of making a further 2:1 reduction, It can also be untied with ease ready for the next load. As I said, the absolute mainstay of securing loads before ratchet straps.
I appreciate their limitations and applications, I was just being conversational.
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