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Diagram

Rolling Hitch

Magnus hitch

Gripping a loaded rope or spar to take a pull along it, such as taking the strain off a line jammed on a winch. It grips a pull in one direction only.

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

ApplicationsHow to tie it
Rolling Hitch, finishedRolling 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. With the load pulling left, take the end round the spar and back over its standing partThe working end goes once round the spar, moving toward the load, and comes back up the front crossing over its own standing part.
    1Over the standing part
    Move 1 of 2With the load pulling left, take the end round the spar and back over its standing part
    Go round again beside it, over the standing part, and tuck under the first turnA second turn lies beside the first, farther toward the load. It comes up the front over the standing part and slips under the first turn where that turn crosses the standing part.
    1Tucked under the first turn
    Move 2 of 2Go round again beside it, over the standing part, and tuck under the first turnYou should now see: Two riding turns side by side on the load side, each crossing over the standing part, the second tucked under the first.

    Step 01

    Decide which way the load will pull along the spar or loaded rope. Wrap the working end around it twice on that side, each turn crossing over its own standing part, so the two turns sit together.

    You should now see

    Two riding turns lying side by side on the spar, both crossed by the standing part and both on the side the load will pull toward.

    If it goes wrong

    Putting the two turns on the side away from the pull. It looks the same, but when the load comes on the hitch slides along the spar instead of gripping.

    Fix: Unwrap it and start again with the turns on the other side of the standing part, pointing toward where the load will travel.

    Why: The riding turns do the gripping. The standing part lies across them and presses them down, but only when the pull runs toward their side and nearly along the spar.

  2. Carry the end across to the far side and take a third turn the same way roundThe end crosses the top of the spar to the side away from the load, over the start of the wraps, and goes once more round the spar the same way as the riding turns.
    1Third turn
    Move 1 of 1Carry the end across to the far side and take a third turn the same way roundYou should now see: Two turns on the load side and one turn on the other side, all going round the same way.

    Step 02

    Carry the working end across the standing part to the other side of the two riding turns and take a third turn around the spar there, going the same way round.

    You should now see

    Two turns on the load side of the standing part and a single turn on the opposite side, all wrapping the spar in the same direction.

    If it goes wrong

    Crossing over after only one riding turn, which makes a clove hitch. Count the turns: one on each side of the standing part is a clove hitch, and it slides under a pull along the spar.

    Fix: Unwind back to the riding turns, make sure there are two on the load side, then cross over and add the single turn.

    Why: The third turn only holds the riding turns in place. The finished shape is a clove hitch with one extra riding turn on the side of the load.

  3. Tuck the end under the third turn where it crosses the top, then pull it snugThe end passes under the third turn where that turn crosses the top of the spar, making the third turn a half hitch that holds the riding turns together.
    1Tucked under
    Move 1 of 1Tuck the end under the third turn where it crosses the top, then pull it snugYou should now see: The end comes out from under the third turn, pinned against the spar, and stays put when released.

    Step 03

    Tuck the working end under that third turn, then pull it snug so the end is trapped against the spar.

    You should now see

    The working end coming out from under the third turn, pinned between that turn and the spar, and staying put when you let go.

    If it goes wrong

    Wrapping the third turn without tucking the end under it. The turn unrolls as soon as you let go, and the riding turns spread apart.

    Fix: Take the end back around and tuck it under the third turn before letting go of the knot.

    Why: The tuck turns the third wrap into a half hitch that keeps the riding turns together. Without it nothing stops the wraps loosening before the load comes on.

  4. Push the three turns hard together, then load the standing part slowly along the sparThe finished rolling hitch: two riding turns on the load side, a half hitch on the far side, the turns pushed together and the standing part leading off along the spar toward the load.
    Move 1 of 1Push the three turns hard together, then load the standing part slowly along the sparYou should now see: The turns settle slightly and stop moving. Any creep along the spar means retie it.

    Step 04

    Push all three turns hard against each other, then load the standing part gradually along the spar, watching the turns rather than the tail.

    You should now see

    The turns settle slightly and then stop moving. On a loaded rope, the hitch puts a slight bend in the rope where it grips.

    If it goes wrong

    Seeing the hitch creep along the spar and using it anyway. Creep under a slow, steady load gets worse once the load starts coming and going.

    Fix: Take the load off and retie it with the turns pushed tighter, or add another riding turn. On slick rope such as Dyneema or Spectra, use a different attachment.

    Why: Hook the Horizon's rule is that any creep at all means retie it. Animated Knots warns that a rolling hitch will not hold on slick modern fibres such as Dyneema.

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 riding turns are on the side away from the pull, so the hitch walks along the rope without gripping
  • !The turns were not pushed hard together before loading, so it creeps a little at a time
  • !The spar or loaded rope is slick, such as Dyneema or Spectra
  • !The pull comes off at an angle instead of along the spar, dragging the turns out of shape
Geometry

  • Turns on the wrong side of the load

    Hitch will not grip and slides off

    Both first turns must sit on the load side · step 01

  • Clove instead of rolling third turn

    Wrong hitch — walks under along-line pull

    The third turn is what makes it a rolling hitch · step 02

  • Failed slide-test, still used

    Snubber walks and dumps the load back on the windlass

    If it walks on the test, do not trust it · step 04

If you saw this

  • Hitch slides down the standing part

    Check

    • ?Two load-side turns
    • ?Pull along the standing part

    Then

    • →Add a turn
    • →Do not use on HMPE without a different plan

  • Turns on the wrong side of the load

    Check

    • ?Hitch will not grip and slides off
    • ?Inspect step 01

    Then

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

  • Clove instead of rolling third turn

    Check

    • ?Wrong hitch — walks under along-line pull
    • ?Inspect step 02

    Then

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

  • Failed slide-test, still used

    Check

    • ?Snubber walks and dumps the load back on the windlass
    • ?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
Load transfer
Not ideal for
  • Slick HMPE standing part
  • A hitch that must hold both ways equally
Common mistakes
  • Putting the two riding turns on the side away from the pull
  • Crossing over after one riding turn, which makes a clove hitch that slides under a pull along the spar
  • Wrapping the third turn without tucking the end under it
  • Using the hitch after seeing it creep along the spar instead of retying it
Alternatives
  • Clove HitchBeginner

    Hanging a fender off a rail or stanchion, or a quick tie you stay beside and adjust

  • Round Turn & Two Half HitchesBeginner

    Makes a rope fast to a post or ring

  • Icicle HitchAdvanced

    Gripping a spar, post or pole when the pull runs along it in one direction

  • Midshipman's HitchIntermediate

    An adjustable loop for guylines, awning corners and boat covers you come back to tighten

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