Bowline or halyard hitch

[sailon46]

I have been tying my main halyard shackle all these years with a bowline. Friend suggested that I use a halyard hitch. What do you guys think or use.
Thanx Ernie on the Mary Jane

[sailormed]

You will have a shorter knot with the halyard hitch, but don’t count on undoing this hitch when it has been used for some time, you will most probably need to cut it.

[Mike OReilly]

I use some version of the halyard hitch in places where I don't have a shackle spliced in. I say some version, b/c I think I use more of an anchor bend. But I'm not sure ... I just tie it automatically without thinking. Gotta be on my boat to "think" about it.

Somehow, a bowline seems wrong for this application, but I suppose it would work as well.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I use some version of the halyard hitch in places where I don't have a shackle spliced in. I say some version, b/c I think I use more of an anchor bend. But I'm not sure ... I just tie it automatically without thinking. Gotta be on my boat to "think" about it.

Somehow, a bowline seems wrong for this application, but I suppose it would work as well.

Is a halyard hitch like an anchor bend but only once around the shackle?
Seems to me I had to 'Google' it last time I worked on halyards...

[Scott Berg]

If not splicing use a buntline hitch; favorite of Rod Stephens

[StuM]

Originally Posted by sailormed

You will have a shorter knot with the halyard hitch, but don’t count on undoing this hitch when it has been used for some time, you will most probably need to cut it.

+1





FWIW:

https://wavetrain.net/2015/01/19/kno...-halyard-knot/

[Breaking Waves]

My experience ....

The halyard hitch (and buntlines) are used where you are trying to get maxmium hoist on the halyard - where you are trying to eliminate the bowline loop length, and/or where there is flogging which will tighten the two hitched but might open a loose bowline. The two hitches will also “capture” the shackle with friction, where it is possible with the bowline to accidentally lose the shackle (when it is not set/closed).

Otherwise, normally for a cruising boat where the main has not been cut totally 100% full hoist - it does not really matter, any of them will work fine.

I know Volvo bowmen tended to use buntline’s when they needed on deck (eg not the time and place for a splice) to get a shackle on the end of a line

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Spot

Is a halyard hitch like an anchor bend but only once around the shackle?
Seems to me I had to 'Google' it last time I worked on halyards...

I had to DuckDuck "halyard hitch" myself. Looks similar to an anchor bend or buntline hitch. Some version of around itself and locked under. Like I said, I'm not even sure what I actually use, but it's something like this.

I prefer it to a bowline for the reasons BW mentions, but I'm not sure if it's actually any better.

[Cheechako]

Bowline worked fine for me, sometimes I used a bowline with two wraps through the cringle for more bearing area on the line.... depending on line and cringle size.

[chrisr]

i've always used bowlines, however had a rigger onboard recently to do some stuff n he used a halyard hitch...

cheers.

[Tillsbury]

Splice and a soft shackle for me every time...

[Thumbs Up]

bowline through the cringle. no shackle.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Bowline worked fine for me, sometimes I used a bowline with two wraps through the cringle for more bearing area on the line.... depending on line and cringle size.

The OP was talking about attaching to a halyard shackle not attaching the halyard directly to the head cringle. That is a different matter. In that situation, a jamming halyard hitch is not such as good idea.


FWIW, I did see a bowline used to attached a headsail halyard work loose not so long ago. (No, I didn't tie it, we sent the guy responsible up the mast to recover the halyard )

[wannacat]

I second the "buntline hitch", also use it to tie the dingy painter. Never had it fail yet.

[Recy]

This one works well but you have to cut it loose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo