Cleat Hitch

Tying procedure — Cleat Hitch

1. Step 01 / 3

   Lead the line to the horn farthest from where the load comes in. Pass it around under that horn, then around under the near horn, so it wraps the base of the cleat.

   You should now see: Line passing under both horns and around the base, ending at the near horn ready to cross over the top. When you ease your grip, the wrap takes some of the pull off your hands.

   If it goes wrong: Starting on the horn nearest the load, so the loaded line gets trapped under the crossings that follow, or crossing over the top before wrapping under both horns.

   Fix: Take the line off and start again at the far horn, going under both horns before any cross. Skip a second full wrap around the base; Animated Knots notes it can clamp down and jam.

   Why: Starting at the far horn keeps the loaded part of the line clear of the turns you add next. The wrap under both horns holds the boat while you finish, and leaves the crossings free to lift off later.

   Step 1 of 3 · move 1 of 1

   Lead to the far horn first, then take the line around the other horn

   Hold: Left hand keeps the loaded line aimed at the far side of the cleat

   Move: Right hand takes the working end under the far horn, behind the cleat and around the other horn

   You should now see: Far horn first, both supports engaged, and no second complete round turn trapped under the first.

2. Step 02 / 3

   Bring the line diagonally over the top of the cleat, around under the far horn, and back diagonally over the top to pass under the near horn, making one figure-eight.

   You should now see: Two diagonals crossing in an X on top of the cleat, each passing under a horn, with the wrap around the base still in place underneath.

   If it goes wrong: Piling on turn after turn and hitch after hitch until the horns are buried. It looks secure, but you can no longer see how the line runs and it is slow to cast off.

   Fix: Unwind back to the base wrap and one clean figure-eight. For a heavier load or rough water, add another full figure-eight rather than extra locking hitches.

   Why: Animated Knots treats two crossings, one figure-eight, as the minimum for a short stay in sheltered water and adds more figure-eights for storm loads. Extra figure-eights add grip; stacked locking hitches jam.

   Step 2 of 3 · move 1 of 1

   Cross over the cleat in a figure eight and keep the turns flat

   Hold: Left hand keeps light tension on the loaded part

   Move: Right hand crosses to the far horn, rounds it, crosses back and rounds the near horn

   You should now see: A clear figure eight over the cleat, with the two diagonal crosses stacked instead of twisted together.

3. Step 03 / 3

   Twist an underhand loop into the line so the tail end lies underneath, then drop the loop over the horn and pull it snug so the tail is pinned under the last wrap.

   You should now see: The locking turn lying alongside the last diagonal and pointing the same way, with the tail coming out from underneath it rather than across the top.

   If it goes wrong: Making the loop the other way so the tail sits on top and nothing locks, or adding two or three locking hitches that pinch each other and jam under load.

   Fix: Lift the loop off the horn, flip it so the tail sits underneath, and drop it on again. Keep a single locking hitch and take any extras off.

   Why: One locking hitch stops the figure-eights shaking loose while the line is slack. Hook the Horizon warns that several locking hitches jam under load, and Animated Knots notes that large vessels often leave it off so the line releases quickly.

   Step 3 of 3 · move 1 of 1

   Repeat the same figure-eight route as needed for the load and leave it releasable

   Hold: Left hand keeps the completed crossover snug and flat

   Move: Right hand repeats the same horn-to-horn route without adding a universal locking hitch

   You should now see: The repeat follows the same route shown here; extra turns stack in use rather than occupying a second impossible centre-line in this static plate.