Which Bend...hitch... knot am I looking for?

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DogWatch

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I want to lash my danbuoy to a rail. Tut tut, should use a bit of pipe, that may be so, I might end up doing that anyway, but right now I am more interested in the knot I am looking to find.

When I was on the lifeboat there was a method to tie the climbing net up with a single pull-to-release knot. I have only ever seen this knot being tied, I have never actually had the opportunity to tie it myself. I have tied the cod end on nets on thousands of occasions, so I have some understanding of slip type knots.

My knot book on board was no help, maybe I should write to Des Pawson MBE and ask him why he didn't include these knots in his book... I met Des at Libs one year, very nice chap as it happens, he showed me where I was going wrong tying a Monkey's Fist. I digress...

Does anyone know of a suitable knot (regardless of expected use), to lash a pole, oar etc. that can be released with a single pull?
 
I do know of one, I believe has various names, but I have known if from Wolf Cub/Boy Scout days onward ( a very long time ago!) as a Highwayman's Hitch).

Basic description before I can find any pics ( I know worth a 1000 etc etc), assuming attaching to a spar, or transverse piece of pushpit in your case) form a loop (bight) with 2-3 ft of free end, put the loop up behind the bar, bring the standing part up in front of the bar and form another loop (bight) which you push part way through the first loop projecting above the back of the bar, pull to tighten, thus leaving the second loop, form another loop(bight) in the remaining free end and put this loop partially through 2nd loop and pull to tighten again. Standing part will remain secure, but pull the free end and the whole knot will come undone.

Partic useful to free moored dinghys or canoes from onboard ( or hitched horses of couse, given the name!)
 
WindermereColvic said:
Highwaymans' hitch
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-tie-highwaymans-hitch-knot-177172/
Click to expand...

That looks the business, I managed to get half way there in my attempts to work out how to do it, the bit I did not do was to make the final loop with the loose end.

But, this would only work as a single knot no? i.e. if I wanted 3 attachment points along the pole, could I use the highwayman's hitch to release on a single pull.. i.e. again.. is it feasible to tie it to release knot number 2 after number 1 has been pulled free?
 
DogWatch said:
I want to lash my danbuoy to a rail. Tut tut, should use a bit of pipe, that may be so, I might end up doing that anyway, but right now I am more interested in the knot I am looking to find.

When I was on the lifeboat there was a method to tie the climbing net up with a single pull-to-release knot. I have only ever seen this knot being tied, I have never actually had the opportunity to tie it myself. I have tied the cod end on nets on thousands of occasions, so I have some understanding of slip type knots.

My knot book on board was no help, maybe I should write to Des Pawson MBE and ask him why he didn't include these knots in his book... I met Des at Libs one year, very nice chap as it happens, he showed me where I was going wrong tying a Monkey's Fist. I digress...

Does anyone know of a suitable knot (regardless of expected use), to lash a pole, oar etc. that can be released with a single pull?
Click to expand...

I think what you are looking for is the 'spur lash'. So called because if it is not tied correctly that will be the noise that the Dan buoy makes as it falls over the side.
 
davidfox said:
I think what you are looking for is the 'spur lash'. So called because if it is not tied correctly that will be the noise that the Dan buoy makes as it falls over the side.
Click to expand...

That's clever, I have saved that for use one day.. :D
 
Just be careful with the highwayman's hitch. It has a tendency to come loose if there is no tension on the 'horse' end as the final loop falls throught the penultimate one. You may care to put a toggle of wood into it to prevent that, but of course that introduces another step in undoing it.
Perhaps just make sure the Danbuoy will fall onto rather than off of the boat
 
The video is slightly different from how I tie it. I lead the line around the standing part before forming the second (of the three) loops. If you then pull the knot tight the standing part (or 'horse' end) is held quite firmly. I've not had a problem with it slipping out so far.
 
Sailors can sometimes over-obsess on finding a solution using string...

http://www.plastimo.com/catalogue/index.php?LangID=1&catid=8

37034A.jpg
 
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I use that hitch when leaving my berth single handed. One end is made off to a bow cleat and the other is brought aft to the cockpit. motor gently astern against the hitch, slip the line, pull in quickly to avoid any risk of prop interaction.
 
A highwayman's hitch is brilliant for temporarily holding a dinghy painter while you load up, or possibly quick-release maneouvering warps, but I wouldn't use one to fix something in place like your danbuoy. I'd expect the knot to work loose with time and motion.

You ask about a lashing - since a lashing involves multiple turns around things, I don't think you could make one quick-release. Any quick-release knot has to avoid passing the end around anything, only bights. I suppose there might be something really clever involving multiple interlocking bights, but I've never seen one.

In your situation (ie low tech and without a pipe to drop it in) I think I'd be looking at something involving a wooden pin to pull out.

Pete
 
prv said:
A highwayman's hitch is brilliant for temporarily holding a dinghy painter while you load up, or possibly quick-release maneouvering warps, but I wouldn't use one to fix something in place like your danbuoy. I'd expect the knot to work loose with time and motion.

You ask about a lashing - since a lashing involves multiple turns around things, I don't think you could make one quick-release. Any quick-release knot has to avoid passing the end around anything, only bights. I suppose there might be something really clever involving multiple interlocking bights, but I've never seen one.

In your situation (ie low tech and without a pipe to drop it in) I think I'd be looking at something involving a wooden pin to pull out.

Pete
Click to expand...

Yes you are quite correct on a few of your points;

I have been considering a piece of dowel, this would be a very easy to accomplish what I am attempting.

The danbuoy is a Jimmy Green type, the weight is too fat to slip through standard sink waste pipe which is what everyone seems to use with plastimo type buoys. I have spent many afternoons in hardware outlets looking for a suitable pipe without joy.
 
DogWatch said:
The danbuoy is a Jimmy Green type, the weight is too fat to slip through standard sink waste pipe which is what everyone seems to use
Click to expand...

Really? On the boats I've chartered the danbuoy pipe has been a bit bigger than anything I've used on a domestic sink (which is either 32 or 40mm nominal if I recall correctly). Perhaps you just need a bigger pipe?

Pete
 
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