Best knot to attach single line to jib clew?

[ebsail]

Been using a simple cow hitch for years. Push a midpoint loop through the hole in the clew and run both ends through the loop. Has'nt slipped in the last 5 years.

[CAELESTIS]

I didn't know what a cow hitch looked like (I always called that knot a "luggage tag"). So searching on line, I found this:
Cow Hitch - How to tie a Cow Hitch

Cow Hitch
The Cow Hitch, also called the Lanyard Hitch, Lark’s Head and Lark’s Foot, is used to secure a rope to a post or other object including another rope. It is similar to a Clove Hitch except that the second half hitch is in the opposite direction. It is about as reliable as a Clove Hitch, which is to say it should not be trusted in critical applications.

I think a storm jib would be considered a "critical application".

[StuM]

Originally Posted by CAELESTIS

I didn't know what a cow hitch looked like (I always called that knot a "luggage tag"). So searching on line, I found this:
Cow Hitch - How to tie a Cow Hitch

Cow Hitch
The Cow Hitch, also called the Lanyard Hitch, Lark’s Head and Lark’s Foot, is used to secure a rope to a post or other object including another rope. It is similar to a Clove Hitch except that the second half hitch is in the opposite direction. It is about as reliable as a Clove Hitch, which is to say it should not be trusted in critical applications.

I think a storm jib would be considered a "critical application".

The link shows a Lark's Head /Cow Hitch being tied on the end of a rope. In that situation, the hitch indeed "can slip or come undone if the object it is tied to rotates or if constant pressure is not maintained on the line."

Tying it in the middle of a long sheet is a very different situation.

[JPA Cate]

We've always kept the storm jib with its sheets attached (with bowlines), so the whole schlemozzle is ready to go when you need it. That is the background to why I recommended what I did.

I think that the bowline in the bight or the double figure of 8 knot would work okay shackled to a soft shackle at the clew. At present our jib sheets are done with bowlines and the soft shackle to the clew. I would still prefer to have the storm jib as a ready-to-go unit with its sheets attatched, directly, for peace of mind. Others' mileage may vary.

I would not use a cow hitch. Except for a saddle cinch.

Ann

[ryon]

Originally Posted by StuM

The link shows a Lark's Head /Cow Hitch being tied on the end of a rope. In that situation, the hitch indeed "can slip or come undone if the object it is tied to rotates or if constant pressure is not maintained on the line."

Tying it in the middle of a long sheet is a very different situation.

This is not what the op asked for, but to tie a one-ended cow hitch/larks head/ring hitch, etc. just pass the short end back thru the two loops. This creates a "pedigree cow hitch" that will always tighten, no matter which direction it is pulled (thank you Lindsey Philpott!).

[Steve O]

I have used a cow hitch for nearly 20 years and never had an issue with it slipping on the ring sewn into the sail. It is a streamlined as you are going to get.

[Schooner Chandlery]

The cow hitch's bigger issue is how it tightens into something that's almost impossible to get apart if it has been subjected to a large load.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

You love that alpine butterfly eh SWL? I agree bowline on the bight.

I was wondering how I could apply my true love (Zeppelin Bend) here, but sadly gave up .

SWL

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Schooner Chandlery

The cow hitch's bigger issue is how it tightens into something that's almost impossible to get apart if it has been subjected to a large load.

Never came across a knot I couldn't in bend with my marlin spike

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I was wondering how I could apply my true love (Zeppelin Bend) here, but sadly gave up .

SWL

Easy! You tie an overhand knot in the centre of the long sheet, feed one end of the sheet through the clew until you come up to the knot and then complete a Zeppelin Loop with the knot

[teneicm]

Well, since I'm hoping to use the storm sail as a sort of cutter rig setup on our upcoming passage to NZ (the storm jib hanks onto the baby stay and supposedly gives another .5 to 1 knot speed on a beam reach), I've gone with a simple cow hitch. I'll watch for any slippage and we'll see how hard it is to take apart later. Hopefully won't need to use it as a true storm jib, but you never know on this route....


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[meirriba]

Originally Posted by teneicm

Well, since I'm hoping to use the storm sail as a sort of cutter rig setup on our upcoming passage to NZ (the storm jib hanks onto the baby stay and supposedly gives another .5 to 1 knot speed on a beam reach), I've gone with a simple cow hitch. I'll watch for any slippage and we'll see how hard it is to take apart later. Hopefully won't need to use it as a true storm jib, but you never know on this route....


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Short seizing of the tails together near the eye of the sail with twine will help to avoid any slippage (that usually would not happen anyway)

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by StuM

Easy! You tie an overhand knot in the centre of the long sheet, feed one end of the sheet through the clew until you come up to the knot and then complete a Zeppelin Loop with the knot

Knew I could rely on the Zep Master to come up with something .

SWL
PS I will have to go hunt up photos I took of the seized Alpine Butterfly Loop when it had tension applied to the loop and one end, rather than two ends, as designed.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I was wondering how I could apply my true love (Zeppelin Bend) here, but sadly gave up .

SWL

I thought you might go there.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I was wondering how I could apply my true love (Zeppelin Bend) here, but sadly gave up .

SWL

And here is another way. The OP cuts the line, uses bowlines to attach to the storm jib and then when he/she wants a long line again, the Zep is used to join the two lines.

Come on Sea, try harder