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Diagram

Bimini Twist

Bimini

Making a double line with a loop at the end, for loop-to-loop leader connections or as the doubled line in knots such as the Yucatan.

Loop · Advanced · Monofilament / Fluorocarbon / Braid · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Bimini Twist, finishedBimini Twist, finished

Finished structure

Drawn from a rope model of this knot: which strand passes over which comes from where the rope actually lies.

  1. Double a long length of line into a loop, with a long tag beside the standing lineThe line is folded back on itself into a long loop; its two legs run side by side to the hand, where the tag lies beside the standing line.
    1Tag, left long
    2Loop of doubled line
    3Standing line
    Move 1 of 1Double a long length of line into a loop, with a long tag beside the standing lineYou should now see: A long, narrow loop of doubled line, and a long tag lying beside the standing line at your hand.

    Step 01

    Double a long length of line into a loop, with a long tag lying beside the standing line.

    You should now see

    A long loop of doubled line, longer than the double you want to finish with, and a tag long enough to roll back over the twists and tie the hitches.

    If it goes wrong

    Starting with too short a loop or tag. The loop will not reach over your knee once the twists are in, or the tag runs out before the half hitches.

    Fix: Start again with more line doubled. The spare is trimmed off at the end.

    Why: The twists use up part of the loop, and the tag has to roll back over every twist and then tie several hitches, so both need extra length.

  2. Spin the end of the loop to put at least 20 twists in the doubled lineThe two legs of the loop are twisted round each other twenty times in an even column running from the hand to the open loop.
    1Twenty twists
    2Open end of the loop
    Move 1 of 2Spin the end of the loop to put at least 20 twists in the doubled line
    Slip the loop over your knee and pull the standing line and tag apartThe loop end sits round the knee; the tag and standing line are pulled apart in a V at the hand end, drawing the twenty twists tight.
    1Loop over the knee
    2Tag
    3Standing line
    Move 2 of 2Slip the loop over your knee and pull the standing line and tag apartYou should now see: A tight, even column of twists running from your hands to the loop, which is held open over your knee.

    Step 02

    Spin the end of the loop to put at least 20 twists in the doubled line, then slip the loop over your knee and pull the standing line and tag apart to keep the twists tight.

    You should now see

    A tight, even column of twists running from your hands toward the loop, with the loop held open over your knee.

    If it goes wrong

    Letting the pull ease while getting the loop over your knee. The twists loosen, bunch up, or leave gaps along the column.

    Fix: If gaps appear, take the loop off, untwist it, and put the twists in again before putting tension back on.

    Why: NetKnots uses 20 twists. Animated Knots recommends about 30 for mono and more for braid. Put the full count in now, because twists cannot be added once the tag starts rolling back.

  3. Keep the tension on and lower the tag hand so the tag rolls back over the twistsThe tag winds back over the twisted column in touching turns from the hand end, half way to the loop, with bare twists still ahead of it.
    1Tag rolling over the twists in touching turns
    2Twists still bare
    Move 1 of 2Keep the tension on and lower the tag hand so the tag rolls back over the twists
    Spread the loop until the tag wraps to the end, then half hitch round one legThe tag's touching turns now cover the whole column; at the loop end the tag goes once round one leg of the loop and tucks under itself, the other leg free beside it.
    1Half hitch round one leg
    2Tag wrapped to the loop
    Move 2 of 2Spread the loop until the tag wraps to the end, then half hitch round one legYou should now see: The tag wound tightly over the twists all the way down to the loop, held there by one half hitch round a single leg.

    Step 03

    Keep the tension on and lower the hand holding the tag until it rolls back over the twists, spreading the loop so the tag wraps down to the end. Lock it with a half hitch around one leg of the loop.

    You should now see

    The tag wound tightly over the twists in touching turns all the way down to the loop, held there by a single half hitch.

    If it goes wrong

    Easing the tension or letting go before the half hitch is on. The tag unrolls and the twists spring loose, which shows as the wraps opening up along the column.

    Fix: A Bimini that has unwound cannot be patched. Untwist the line and start again from step 2.

    Why: Spreading the two legs of the loop is what drives the tag down over the twists. The single half hitch only holds everything while you tie the final lock.

  4. Tie three half hitches with the tag round both legs, working back toward the knotPast the single-leg hitch the tag makes three half hitches round both legs of the loop, each one a turn round the pair tucked under its own standing part.
    1The first hitch, round one leg
    2Half hitch round both legs, tucked under itself
    3Three half hitches in a row
    Move 1 of 2Tie three half hitches with the tag round both legs, working back toward the knot
    Pull the hitches tight against the base of the twists and trim the tag to 6 mmThe finished Bimini: the standing line enters a long barrel of tag wrapped over twenty twists, a collar of half hitches at its end, then the double line of the loop.
    Move 2 of 2Pull the hitches tight against the base of the twists and trim the tag to 6 mmYou should now see: A neat collar of hitches snug against the end of the twists, a short tag, and a loop that keeps its full length when pulled.

    Step 04

    Tie 3 to 5 half hitches with the tag around both legs of the loop, working back toward the knot. Pull them tight against the base of the twists and trim the tag to about 6 mm (a quarter inch).

    You should now see

    A neat collar of hitches snug against the end of the twists, a short tag, and a loop that keeps its full length when pulled.

    If it goes wrong

    Too few hitches, or hitches left loose away from the twists. The collar slides and the twists start to unwind when the double is loaded.

    Fix: If the tag is still long, add hitches and pull them down tight. If the tag is already trimmed and the collar moves, tie the knot again.

    Why: The hitches around both legs stop the tag unrolling from the twists. Working them back toward the knot packs them against the column instead of leaving a gap.

HTH · Reference layout

Bimini Twist — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout

Bimini Twist — finished-state checks, on the shared reference layout
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Failure modes

When this family fails, it fails as these. The recovered end still outranks the name.

HTH · Advanced failure modes

Bimini Twist — what fails and what to do

Bimini Twist — what fails and what to do
Hook the Horizon reference plate
Double-line family

A load-bearing loop of doubled line, locked so it cannot crawl back.

  • !Twists or wraps not packed before the lock
  • !Lock that crawls back into the double
  • !Uneven legs — one side takes the shock
Fails when
  • !Tension eased before the half hitch, so the tag unrolls and the twists spring loose
  • !Too few twists. Animated Knots cites tests where about twelve turns failed
  • !Locking hitches too few or loose, so the collar slides and the twists unwind under load
  • !Hit with sudden jerks while dry, which heats the knot by friction and breaks it at lower loads
Geometry

  • Twists unravel — the double is gone

    Double-line fails

    Tension plus the lock create the Bimini; slack twists dump · step 03

  • Loose or gapped twist column

    Weak double

    Dense even twists are the Bimini; gaps are a different structure · step 02

  • Lock hitches never finished the Bimini

    Unravels under load

    The end lock is not optional — an unlocked column walks · step 04

If you saw this

  • Twists unravel before fishing

    Check

    • ?Inspect twist column density

    Then

    • →Practice with heavier cord
    • →Use a partner for tension
    • →Watch a long-form vetted demo

  • Twist column shows gaps or loose sections.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Twist column shows gaps or loose sections.

    Then

    • →Retie under continuous tension; keep legs even.

  • Reverse wraps stack or jump instead of progressing.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Reverse wraps stack or jump instead of progressing.

    Then

    • →Maintain tension; re-wrap reverse series cleanly.

  • One loop leg bears visibly more load.

    Check

    • ?Look for: One loop leg bears visibly more load.

    Then

    • →Equalize legs before final locks; retie if already set wrong.

  • Used as a terminal to a lure eye.

    Check

    • ?Look for: Used as a terminal to a lure eye.

    Then

    • →Use Bimini for double-line/system building; pick a terminal knot for the eye.

  • Finished check failed — twist column contains loose sections

    Check

    • ?twist column is uniform under tension
    • ?reverse wraps progress without gaps
    • ?finished double-line loop has two balanced legs

    Then

    • →Retie. uneven load sharing or twist collapse.

  • Twists unravel — the double is gone

    Check

    • ?Double-line fails
    • ?Inspect step 03

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Loose or gapped twist column

    Check

    • ?Weak double
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.

  • Lock hitches never finished the Bimini

    Check

    • ?Unravels under load
    • ?Inspect step 04

    Then

    • →Retie. Do not dress a defective structure and call it seated.
Same family

Same failure class, different geometry. Open the plates — Diagnose still starts from the symptom.

This failed — start Diagnose

Why this knot

What it earns its place with, what it costs, and what to reach for instead.

Best for
Loop connectionsHigh strengthJoining lines
Not ideal for
  • Quick bankside re-ties
  • Beginners without practice gear
Common mistakes
  • Starting with too short a loop or tag to reach the knee and finish the hitches
  • Letting the pull ease while getting the loop over the knee
  • Letting go of the tension before the first half hitch is on
  • Too few locking half hitches, or hitches left loose away from the twists
Alternatives
  • Perfection LoopBeginner

    A small fixed loop in the end of a leader, tippet or fly line that lies in line with the standing line

  • FG KnotAdvanced

    Joining a braid main line to a leader, such as fluorocarbon, with a slim, tapered join that runs through the rod guides

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