naught a knot

[DaveC426913]

I'm looking for the right knot. I need to lash a line at both ends, such that the line has virtually zero side-to-side play when torqued in the middle.

It's easy enough to knot a regular knot at one end, but the knot that the other end has to be tied while under max tension, so that when I'm done, the line is still under max tension. I can't do that with a bowline or a round turn and half-hitches, or any other knot I know of. I just can;t get them tight enough. I always need a bit of play to finish the knot. And that's enough to give the handle six inches of play across the 3-4 feet of distance. Too much.

Only other thing I can think of is a way to tension it after both knots are tied. But I'm not sure how I might do that that isn't bulky or awkward.



I'm making a handle for the Admiral to hang on when heeling. It runs from pushpit rail to ... armpit rail, outside the cockpit coaming.

[SENCMac26x]

Sounds like you want a taut line hitch

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/tautline-hitch/

[DaveC426913]

Sounds like you want a taut line hitch

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/tautline-hitch/

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

It looks like it'll start off taut but I suspect under this kind of leverage, it'll slip.

Then again, I can always use thin line or tape to lash it in place...

[SENCMac26x]

The last overhand loop should lock it into place, but you can apply another safety knot (additional overhead loop) to further secure it.

[Chinook]

If you can't get the tautline hitch to work, you might try a trucker's hitch, which is what I use when I need to get good tension on a line. You put a simple half hitch/loop in the line between the two ends. Take the running end through what you're tying to and then put the running end through your loop. You can then pull back on the line like you're using a block and tackle, and give it as much tension as your strength allows. It's easy to secure with a pair of half hitches. If your loop collapses on you, you've twisted for the loop in the wrong direction. Go the other way with the twist and the loop will keep its shape under tension. This works great for tying loads down, and enables the line to be made really tight.

[Tomfoolery]

It looks like it'll start off taut but I suspect under this kind of leverage, it'll slip.

I used to use it as a climbing knot when I worked as a tree climber (many, many, many moons ago). Never slipped with me dangling from it, but you could certainly tie a truckers hitch. That brings the line back to the rail, where you can tie a taught line hitch or a couple of round turns and some half-hitches. Probably have to tie it several times so you don't use up too much in the loop of the truckers hitch, or too little, so you don't interfere with its intended purpose.

Another option might be to use small line, tie one end, and make numerous back and forth turns around the posts, then secure the end. You can even twist them as you go, sort of making a rope of it. But the advantage of this is that what little you lose in the knot gets spread over however many parts you have, and you won't lose barely any pretension.

[csm]

I'm no sure what the technical term is for it, but what I use is similar to what Chinook discribed. I secure one end, typically with a bowline, and then tie another small loop bowline a foot or so (depending on how much stretch I'm tyring to take up) from the other anchor point. Run the tag end thru the loop and you can apply an incredible amount of tension into the line, and then finish with either a couple half hitches, or by pinching the line as close to the bowline loop as you can and turning a loop in the tag end to form a loop knot that locks up tight, but can easily be released by pulling on the tag end. The loop knot finish is fairly secure, but for critical applications, I go with half hitches to finish.

[Ixneigh]

I use a variation of the above to replace the pelican hooks on my lifelines.
Ix

[vizwhiz]

If the space is small, there might not be enough room for a good trucker's hitch, but it will work if there is enough space. A taut-line hitch would also work. Unfortunately if you're going to use this as a a handle it should be big and thick so it doesn't hurt the admiral's hand after a long time of holding it. For that, i would lean toward what Tomfoolery suggested, many loops back and forth around the two ends, criss-crossed and/or twisted into a thicker rope that is easier to hold onto. Once you tie the second end knot, which can be a taut-line hitch, TF is right, a small amount of slack won't loosen the whole thing the way a single pass gets loosened.

Just from the engineering perspective, there is no way to make a perfectly straight line or rope that holds a significant pull or hold weight perpendicular to the rope without flexing. It has to create an angle in it for the tension in the rope to create the force counteracting the pull in the middle. Perhaps you can consider buying some of those self-build railing components that clamp on and make a hard handle for the admiral to hold?

[DaveC426913]

Sounds like you want a taut line hitch

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/tautline-hitch/

Tried it. Yeah, it works great! Can pluck it like a guitar string! We'll see if the Admirals' deathgrip can dislodge it...

[topcat0399]

Sounds like you want a taut line hitch

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/tautline-hitch/

Tried it. Yeah, it works great! Can pluck it like a guitar string! We'll see if the Admirals' deathgrip can dislodge it...

hehhehehe there's some darn funny guys around here.

[mastreb]

Tried it. Yeah, it works great! Can pluck it like a guitar string! We'll see if the Admirals' deathgrip can dislodge it...

So, just for curiosity's sake, what happens if it fails?

[DaveC426913]

Tried it. Yeah, it works great! Can pluck it like a guitar string! We'll see if the Admirals' deathgrip can dislodge it...

So, just for curiosity's sake, what happens if it fails?

I spend the rest of my life on the run from the cops for murder, since, if she does actually pitch headlong into the water, I'd better make sure she doesn't come back out, or it'll be my murder the cops are investigating.