The Monkey's Fist

More details about the The Monkey's Fist

The Monkey's Fist

Uses: The Monkey's Fist (ABOK # 2200 - 3, p 354) is used as a decorative knot and has been recommended to weight the end of a heaving line (see caution below).

Tying it: The Monkey's Fist is usually tied around separated fingers. For the demonstration here, a piece of wire was used instead. After each set of three complete turns, the direction is changed by passing the end through the middle. Count carefully: it is very easy to mis-count and have four strands on one side and three strands opposite.

Finishing it: To see a neat way to securely bury the short end and fill the center, move your mouse over: Knot End, Tuck In, Tighten, Done. The half hitch in the center provides an appropriate amount of filling for the center of the fist.

Caution: NO WEIGHTS: The Monkey's Fist is commonly described as being tied around a small pebble or other weight. The argument advanced is that this will make it easier to throw a heaving line. However, if you hit someone you may injure them:

• Removal of Monkey's Fists: Dock hands have been known to cut Monkey's Fists off heaving lines - and I sympathize with them. (Grog's father, E.B. Grogono, served as a ship's doctor on a submarine depot ship in World War II. He watched professional dock hands cut off Monkey's Fists and his account remains in my mind). Imagine looking up against a bright sky to and catch a neat coil and then being hit by a weighted missile.
• How to Heave a Dock Line: Split a coil into two halves. Throw one half as a compact coil so that it carries the distance while the rope pays out smoothly from the other half.

Original Description: Ashley describes keeping both ends outside the fist and splicing the short end into the long one. This also makes a pleasing finish but I selected the version here as I prefer seeing the ball on the end of a single line.