Dinghy trot knot

[Stemar]

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.

It's what I used on the genoa sheet of my Snapdragon for years, with no problems. I was, of course, using it "to give two ropes to control" the genny without any metalwork to slap me in the eye.

 

[thinwater]

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.

A bend is a knot joining two ropes. Sheet bend. Fisherman's bend. Overhand bend. Carrick bend.

Bending on a rope is a verb and is not specific to the class of knot/bend/hitch. Just sayin'. Perhaps it comes from the oft misnamed halyard bend, which is actually a halyard hitch. Really, an anachronism.

Being pedantic gets so weird. We're all guilty occasionally.

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Yes, it should be simple, but having your dinghy drift off is a major PITA. I suggested a rolling hitch because it is really fast, just a clove hitch with one extra turn. It's not a knot I have to think about.

Long tails really help security on most knots. No reason not to, if it's not in the way.

 

[oldbloke]

How about two or three round turns and the tie off back on the boat so the knot isn't wet and smothered in weed and sh.t. If worried it might slide down the trot line then a couple of turks heads or similar to act as a barrier to sliding

 

[Daydream believer]

It depends where abouts along the trot rope the op wants the dinghy. If it is not far from a post then the answer for me would be to have a large spring hook on the painter & pass it round the post or a loop & back on itself. ( Accepting allowance that it will be able to rise & fall with the tide) If mid trot rope then fix a loop of cordage by tying & passing a couple of the turns through the trot rope with a large splicing needle such as the type found in a Marlow set, to stop it slipping. Then hook to that

 

[Refueler]

It depends where abouts along the trot rope the op wants the dinghy. If it is not far from a post then the answer for me would be to have a large spring hook on the painter & pass it round the post or a loop & back on itself. ( Accepting allowance that it will be able to rise & fall with the tide) If mid trot rope then fix a loop of cordage by tying & passing a couple of the turns through the trot rope with a large splicing needle such as the type found in a Marlow set, to stop it slipping. Then hook to that

That fine until someone parks their dinghy not same as before .... near all trot ropes I've used .... you never tie to same place twice unless lucky.