rear ladder safety knot

[nansee3]

I singlehand my 35' sea sprite cutter frequently and I'm looking for a good secure but slippery knot I can use to tie up my transom folding ladder to the rear rail. The knot must pull open easily should I fall overboard and get back to the cockpit. The tail of the line should be near the water line but not so far as to foul the prop. I would pull the line and WaLa! The knot would open and the ladder would unfold and descend. Some type of slip knot. Any suggestions?

[RainDog]

One option is to knot the rope to the ladder and then attach the ladder to the rear rail with 20lb test fishing line. When you pull the rope, it will break the line fairly easily. Replace the line about once a year.

[El Pinguino]

Slippery hitch... Slippery Half Hitch - Favorite Knots for Sports
just leave a very long tail on it....

[Richard5]

El Ping beat me to it. That's what I'd advise.

[RainDog]

I never had luck with the slippery hitch. Always untied itself and I found my ladder dragging behind me in the water. I was using 3/8 double braid.

[Dod42]

There is a knot called a highwaymans hitch. Have a look at that

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I never had luck with the slippery hitch. Always untied itself and I found my ladder dragging behind me in the water. I was using 3/8 double braid.

Is it because you had tied off to slippery SS? Take another turn.

[Roy M]

There's always bungie cord........

[El Pinguino]

Maybe you are using slippery string?
Mine is old 3 strand stuff... quite un-slippery.... but I must admit to having a very small s/s cleat near the top of the ladder. I just take two turns around that leave the long tail hanging... I can flick it off the cleat when in the water...

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by Richard5

Is it because you had tied off to slippery SS? Take another turn.

I will try that. Thanks.

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by Roy M

There's always bungie cord........

Blasphemer. A proper knot for everything, properly.

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I will try that. Thanks.

If that doesn't do take a turn under...a la a half hitch. Slippery SS with slippery line (as The Penguin insinuated) does not make a good mix. However there is always a knot or hitch to overcome whatever dissimilar objects you wish to secure and undo in quick fashion. A stopper knot (figure eight or other) will keep the bitter end from coming unfurled.

Then again, maybe you're doing it all wrong. A bowline on the ladder, a slipped hitch to the cleat (or stanchion, etc) may serve your purpose better. The line takes a dunking with the ladder. If anything it will shine off that shiny coating on the line which acts against keeping a secure knot secure.

[Paul Elliott]

I use a snap-shackle lashed to the ladder, snapped through a stainless ring lashed to the stanchion. A line is tied to the snap-shackle release pin, and it is just long enough to almost reach the waterline. I have a big monkey's fist knot that can be easily grabbed. Just make sure that the ladder doesn't hit you on the head when you release it!

My concern with using a slip knot is that since it's going to be in place for months at a time it's either going to bind up or slip open by itself. I suppose the shackle could corrode, but that's not been a problem so far.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Dod42

There is a knot called a highwaymans hitch. Have a look at that

+1,000

[Richard5]

Nothing should be so ignored for that length of time. However, if I got this right what Paul is saying stick a monkey fist through a shackle. I've done that and it works. The caveat is to not so long ignore something that it, say a shackle freezes up on you.