French Hitching

[lesweeks]

I've a round, vertical, grab handle of about 18" rising up from a cut-off bullkhead in my largely mahogany cabin. I've decided that to make it provide a better grip and to improve its appearance I'll French Hitch it. The question is what sort of line to use and whether or not it needs some sort of finish applied to it afterwards.

Various books suggest different material; cotton, linen, polywhatever. I've tried a bit to test the idea using No.4 cotton piping cord. It looks very good, but the ultra white appearance will soon look pretty grotty if I don't seal it in some way - but I don't want to make it slippery. What should I use?

Or maybe get some man-made stuff either laid or braided which would probably look OK(ish) and would happily take an ocassional scrub.

Has anyone done this or got any suggestions?

 

[sarabande]

we used pipe-clay (blanco) on gaiters, but I don't know where you can get it now.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The standard answer is plain white paint; that's what the "bible" (Ashley Book of Knots) suggests.

 

[SHUG]

Pardon my ignorance but I have Googled for "French Hitch" and got French Bowline,
French Prusik knot and tête d'alouette but no French Hitch. Do you have an explanation or link please.

 

[lesweeks]

Pardon my ignorance but I have Googled for "French Hitch" and got French Bowline,
French Prusik knot and tête d'alouette but no French Hitch. Do you have an explanation or link please.

Sure, it looks like this:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9975&stc=1&d=1299185791

Les

 

[SHUG]

Thanks great illustration. Nice appearance for tillers etc.
As often happens, the OP didn't get an answer to his question.....what line would you recommend??

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Thanks great illustration. Nice appearance for tillers etc.
As often happens, the OP didn't get an answer to his question.....what line would you recommend??

<pedantry warning>No, he asked what to use to seal the line, answered above.</pedantry warning>

But if possible, a hard cotton line would do - synthetic lines tend to be too slippery. Sash braid might do nicely.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Pardon my ignorance but I have Googled for "French Hitch" and got French Bowline,
French Prusik knot and tête d'alouette but no French Hitch. Do you have an explanation or link please.

Try googling 'french whipping'. Then click on images.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Sure, it looks like this:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9975&stc=1&d=1299185791

Les

Hmm - I've always known that as 'West Country Whipping'. It's on my wheel and works fine in braided matt Polyester.

 

[lesweeks]

Hmm - I've always known that as 'West Country Whipping'. It's on my wheel and works fine in braided matt Polyester.

As I understand it, West Country Whipping is used on the end of a rope (but could easily be a solid round) and an overhand knot is tied repeatedly front and back giving a vertical 'ridge' on either side whereas the French Whipping achieves a spiraling ridge as seen in the illustration.