Main Halyard knot

[ghostlymoron]

Does anyone know a knot that can be used to tie the halyard direct to the top of a sail. At present I have the halyard bowlined to a shackle. Tying direct would allow me to hoist a bit higher ( and save the cost of a shackle).

 

[AIDY]

a knot called a halyard knot. use it to tie the shackle to the halyard...

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Does anyone know a knot that can be used to tie the halyard direct to the top of a sail. At present I have the halyard bowlined to a shackle. Tying direct would allow me to hoist a bit higher ( and save the cost of a shackle).

Just use a bowlin!!! I did thousands of miles, including a cruise down to the Med in a 26 footer with no problems.

 

[VicS]

Halyard knot:
http://pdf.nauticexpo.com/pdf/selden/hints-and-advice/21696-6227-_16.html

 

[woodstock]

I use one which goes a bit like this: Looking at pics, it's a fisherman's bend, without the second half-hitch.
You put the end of the rope through the hole, twice.
Take the end around the halyard (the bit which goes up the mast) and tuck under both loops on the headboard.
Pull tight. This stays nice and tight and weve never lost the main halyard in 10 years.
HEre's a pic: http://www.sailingusa.info/images/fisherman_bend.jpg

Hope that makes sense!

 

[Spyro]

Just use a bowlin!!! I did thousands of miles, including a cruise down to the Med in a 26 footer with no problems.

He wants more tension on the sail so needs more space between headboard and sheave. Hence asking about a different knot.

 

[philip_stevens]

Does anyone know a knot that can be used to tie the halyard direct to the top of a sail. At present I have the halyard bowlined to a shackle. Tying direct would allow me to hoist a bit higher ( and save the cost of a shackle).

A Fishermans Bend

or a Taut-line hitch (that is similar to a rolling hitch)

 

[emsworthy]

Depending on the size of your halyard, a really simple but effective way to do this is to tie a parrel bead onto the end of the halyard with a stopper knot (a half hitch works well) then simply pass a loop of halyard through the eye on the headboard put the bead through the loop and pull tight. You will then be able to pull the headboard up level with the sheave with no fear of a knot jamming in it.

http://www.force4.co.uk/7836/Seasure-Parrel-Bead-32mm-BLACK.html

We do this on our dinghies and it's really quick and easy.

 

[alan_d]

Buntline hitch. Animated instructions here.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Rigger tied my new main halyard to a shackle last week with a very pretty knot ... he called it a bloodknot ... I must look it up.

 

[VicS]

Rigger tied my new main halyard to a shackle last week with a very pretty knot ... he called it a bloodknot ... I must look it up.

Blood knot:
http://www.animatedknots.com/bloodknot/index.php

Perhaps he meant a tucked half blood knot :
http://www.btinternet.com/~kevin.l.j.knight/knot15.htm

 

[bbg]

Can all of these knots be undone easily?
I have resorted to a round turn and two half hitches because I can get it tighter to the headboard than a bowline (thus giving more room to raise) and because it is easy to undo at the end of the day.

Some of these other knots satisfy the first criteria, but what about the second? And is there any reason not to use a round turn and two half hitches?

BTW, I know the Fisherman's Bend - illustrated above - as an Anchor Bend.

 

[Kelpie]

Another vote for fisherman's/anchor bend. Use this on both my boats, no problems, and never had it jam. Although expect maybe on a dinghy I wonder under what circumstances you would need to untie the halyard from the sail in a hurry? Is being on the boom not low enough for you?