Hitch Knots for Beginners

Tying an efficient knot is something sailors are well known for. If you’re new to the boating scene you may still be a bit unfamiliar with knots and their importance—but not for long! We here at Nisswa Marine have written up a handy guide on how to tie 3 of the most important hitching knots for new boaters. And, If you’re still in the market for a new vessel, you can stop by our dealership in Nisswa, Minnesota, and take a look at our huge inventory of new and used models.

Cleat Hitch 

A cleat is a mooring anchor often used to dock a ship. You’ll recognize this fixture by its long top that juts out like a set of horns. To begin, loop the rope around the base of the cleat. Once the two ends of the rope cross, you’ll want to take the end that’s placed on top of the other rope and lift it over the cleat. Once the rope passes over the top of the cleat, slide it under the nearest horn. Draw the line up over the cleat once again, effectively creating a loop around the horn. With the end of the rope that is placed over the cleat make a loop as if you’re going to wrap around the other horn as well. Instead, twist the loop once and then place it around the horn. Pull tightly to secure your knot. 

Clove Hitch 

Unlike the cleat hitch which is primarily used on a specific mooring, this knot can be used on any pole or railing. To begin, take your rope and loop it around the fixture so that the two ends of the line are crossed over each other. Without uncrossing your original lope, take one end of the rope and twist it around itself to create another loop. You should only twist it once to create this loop. Place the new loop on top of the current one on the fixture. Pull both ends of the rope firmly to be sure your knot doesn’t slip. 

Half-Hitch

A half hitch is also often called an overhand knot and is generally used to support other, more complicated knots, although two can be used together for lightweight items. Much like a clove hitch, half hitch knots are used on any fixtures available, most commonly railings and poles. To begin, create a loop by crossing the two ends of the rope around the fixture. Taking one end of the rope, throw it over the fixture once again and let it dangle. You should notice that there is now a bit of dangling rope similar to a loop on the other side of the fixture. Grab the dangling end of the rope you just used. Pull it under the fixture and through this new loop to complete your knot. 

We hope this guide has been helpful to you as you get familiar with the ins and out of your ship! We encourage you to also take a look at our other article here, which covers other beginner’s knots we couldn’t cover in this article. If you’re still in need of a new boat we hope you’ll visit Nisswa Marine. We proudly serve the cities of Minneapolis and St. Cloud Minnesota and offer amazing deals on our inventory.