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KA

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

Finished structure

No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.

  1. 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.

    No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.

    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. Step 02

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

    No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.

    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. 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.

    No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.

    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. Step 04

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

    No drawing of this exact knot yet. The written steps are the reference.

    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

Not ideal for

  • ×A lock you will walk away from (trucker's hitch)
  • ×Slick HMPE
  • ×A standing snubber on chain

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