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Diagram

Midshipman's Hitch

Taut-line hitch · Midshipman hitch · Awning hitch

An adjustable loop for guylines, awning corners and boat covers you come back to tighten. It slides along the standing part to set the tension and holds when the loop is loaded.

Hitch · Intermediate · Polyester / Nylon rope / Polypropylene / Natural fibre · 4 steps

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Midshipman's Hitch, finishedMidshipman's Hitch, finished

Finished structure

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

  1. Pass the tail round the post and bring it back beside the standing partThe rope runs along the front of the post, round its far side, and its tail comes back behind to lie beside the standing part, making a loop.
    Move 1 of 3Pass the tail round the post and bring it back beside the standing part
    Take the tail once round the standing part, inside the loopThe tail wraps once round the standing part just where the leg from the post meets it, on the loop side of the knot.
    1First turn
    Move 2 of 3Take the tail once round the standing part, inside the loop
    Go round a second time, over the first turn, and tuck in between it and the legThe tail goes round the standing part a second time; it crosses diagonally over the front of the first turn and wraps again on the post side of it.
    1Second turn crosses the first
    Move 3 of 3Go round a second time, over the first turn, and tuck in between it and the legYou should now see: Two turns on the standing part inside the loop, the second crossing over the first and lying between it and the leg from the post.

    Step 01

    Pass the tail around the object, then take a turn around the standing part inside the loop. Go around a second time and tuck the tail in between the first turn and the line coming back from the object.

    You should now see

    Two turns on the standing part inside the loop, the second crossing the first, with the tail pinned between the first turn and the line from the object.

    If it goes wrong

    Laying the second turn beside the first without tucking it in. That makes a taut-line hitch: pull the tail and the turns slide along the standing part instead of jamming.

    Fix: Take the second turn off and go around again, this time tucking the tail in between the first turn and the line from the object.

    Why: The tuck is what makes this a midshipman's hitch. It jams the second turn against the first, so the turns can hold the load on their own.

  2. Pull the tail tight to jam the two turns, then ease off and let the loop take loadThe tail is pulled up away from the knot so the two turns bed down against each other on the standing part.
    Move 1 of 1Pull the tail tight to jam the two turns, then ease off and let the loop take loadYou should now see: The loop stays tight with the tail released, and the two turns stay put on the standing part: an awning hitch.

    Step 02

    Pull the tail tight so the two turns jam together, then ease off the tail and let the loop take the load.

    You should now see

    The loop stays tight with the tail released, and the turns stay where they are on the standing part.

    If it goes wrong

    Turns taken outside the loop, on the side away from the object. When the loop takes load, the turns slide along the standing part instead of holding.

    Fix: Undo the turns and take them again on the object side of the standing part, inside the loop.

    Why: Pulled tight, the two turns form an awning hitch. It holds the load while you tie the last half hitch, which the taut-line version does not do.

  3. Carry the tail past both turns and half hitch it outside the loop, the same way roundThe tail runs over the top of both turns, away from the post, then goes once round the standing part the same way as the turns and out under its own part.
    1Half hitch outside the loop
    Move 1 of 1Carry the tail past both turns and half hitch it outside the loop, the same way roundYou should now see: A single half hitch on the standing part just outside the loop, snug against the two turns, its end trapped under the carry.

    Step 03

    Carry the tail past both turns and tie a half hitch around the standing part outside the loop, going round in the same direction as the turns.

    You should now see

    A single half hitch on the standing part just outside the loop, snug against the two turns.

    If it goes wrong

    Leaving the half hitch off, or tying it inside the loop with the turns. The tail works back out of the turns once the load eases.

    Fix: Bring the tail out past the turns, tie the half hitch around the standing part outside the loop, and snug it against the turns.

    Why: Animated Knots notes the half hitch can be reversed for an adjustable variation. The usual form carries on in the same direction as the turns.

  4. Pull the knot tight, slide it along the standing part to set the tension, reloadThe finished midshipman's hitch slid along the standing part away from the post, making the loop longer and the line tighter.
    Move 1 of 1Pull the knot tight, slide it along the standing part to set the tension, reloadYou should now see: With no load the hitch slides when you push it; with the loop loaded it stays where you left it.

    Step 04

    Pull the knot tight, then slide it along the standing part to set the tension you want and load the loop again.

    You should now see

    With no load the hitch slides when you push it; with the loop loaded it stays put.

    If it goes wrong

    Leaving it to hold tension unattended in Dyneema, Spectra or polypropylene. In those ropes the hitch can slide under a steady load.

    Fix: In slippery rope add an extra turn or a second half hitch and check it under load. For tension you will walk away from, use a fixed knot such as a trucker's hitch.

    Why: The hitch grips only while the loop pulls the turns against the standing part. That is what lets you adjust it, and why it can creep in slick fibres.

Failure modes

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

Grip-hitch family

Directional bite on a standing part — slide-test before you trust it.

  • !Turns on the wrong side of the load
  • !Failed slide-test, still used
  • !A clove where a rolling or icicle third turn was the job
Fails when
  • !The second turn is not tucked in, so the turns slide along the standing part when the loop is loaded
  • !The turns are on the side away from the object, so they slide instead of holding
  • !The half hitch is missing, so the tail works out of the turns once the load eases
  • !The rope is Dyneema, Spectra, polypropylene or three-strand nylon, where it can slide under a steady load
Geometry

  • Inside tuck missing

    This is a taut-line and walks under working load

    Animated Knots: the extra inside tuck is the hold · step 01

  • Turns on the wrong side of the load

    Hitch will not grip

    Both first turns must sit on the load side · step 02

  • Used as a lock-and-leave purchase

    Guy walks slack after you walk away

    A lock you leave is a trucker's hitch · step 04

If you saw this

  • Guy walks slack under working load

    Check

    • ?First turn tucked under itself
    • ?Turns on the load side
    • ?Outside half hitch present

    Then

    • →Retie the inside tuck
    • →Add a turn
    • →Use a trucker's hitch if you must lock and leave

  • Inside tuck missing

    Check

    • ?This is a taut-line and walks under working load
    • ?Inspect step 01

    Then

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

  • Turns on the wrong side of the load

    Check

    • ?Hitch will not grip
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

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

  • Used as a lock-and-leave purchase

    Check

    • ?Guy walks slack after you walk away
    • ?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
Tensioning line
Not ideal for
  • A lock you will walk away from (trucker's hitch)
  • Slick HMPE
  • A standing snubber on chain
Common mistakes
  • Laying the second turn beside the first without tucking it in, which ties a taut-line hitch
  • Taking the turns outside the loop, on the side away from the object
  • Leaving the half hitch off, or tying it inside the loop with the turns
  • Leaving it to hold tension unattended in slippery rope
Alternatives
  • Trucker's HitchIntermediate

    Pulling a line tight between two fixed points to lash down a load or a tarpaulin, then locking it with two half hitches

  • Rolling HitchIntermediate

    Gripping a loaded rope or spar to take a pull along it, such as taking the strain off a line jammed on a winch

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