The Cleat Hitch

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Uses: The Cleat Hitch, or Cleat Knot, secures a rope to a cleat. It is deceptively simple and an unwary skipper who invites visitors to tie the dock line to a cleat may be dismayed by the unsatisfactory results.

Two Methods The two methods, both with advocates and both with critics, are in conflict over the use of an initial complete round turn: the technique above avoids it; the technique on the right requires it.

1. With: While handling a loaded tow line, especially one subject to heavy shock-loading, use the technique on the right with an initial complete round turn round the cleat. You can then handle the towline safely while waiting for the order to secure the line. Then add several figure eight turns and, for further security, a few circular wraps round the whole cleat. Never add a locking hitch - shock loading on nylon line can tighten many turns, including your locking hitch so that it cannot be released.
2. Without: To secure a tow line to your own bow cleat for towing before there is any load on it, you can use the technique above because experienced tow operators report that under these circumstances a complete round turn carries a higher risk of winding up with the tow line locked under an over-riding turn (see explanation at foot of page)

No Locking Hitch: Several Skippers have written to say that when towing, and on professionally crewed sailing vessels, a final locking hitch is never used. Omitting this locking hitch: 1) reduces the chance of a jam; 2) facilitates undoing a line in a hurry; and 3) enhances uniformity of practice. However, on small yachts loads are smaller, jams are rare, and the locking turn is in widespread use. Nevertheless, if professional experience condemns the use of a locking turn, it suggests that the rest of us would be wise to learn to cleat a rope without it too!

First Horn: Initially the rope must be led round the most distant horn of the cleat followed by a turn in the same direction round the other horn. Starting round the wrong horn increases the risk of a jam.

Heavy conditions: Experienced sailors agree that the main animation at the top does represent a classical description. However, using modern ropes in adverse conditions they will usually include several additional figure of eight turns to ensure that no load reaches the final turn.

History: "Belaying a rope" means securing it or making it fast. Before cleats were common, a rope used to be secured to a vertical pin in a wooden beam called, of course, a "Belaying Pin". Several variations are described by Ashley in his "Book of Knots", including the use of a single hitch by itself (ABOK # 1594, page 284).

Acknowledgements: Several people have written to provide suggestions about this knot. In particular it is a pleasure to thank:

1. Kevin Redden, and Michael Abegg who both stressed the risk of a jam when using a full round turn when towing.
2. James Maxner of North Atlantic Maritime Services who stressed the critical importance of employing a round turn when handling a tow line subject to a heavy load and the importance of avoiding a locking hitch.

Explanation: Even though their opinions appear to differ, I believe they make valuable points and are basing their experience on slightly different situations. The line passed from a towboat to a yacht is likely to be large relative to the cleat - avoiding the round turn makes sense. A towing vessel will have bitts, or cleats of a size appropriate to take several turns, and the round turn will be less likely to be subject to an over-riding turn.