Noose looking knot for a spring line - what is it called?

[Bowhaus]

Hi All,
I want to to replace the spring line for a boat that I recently purchased, and I'm a pretty novice sailor. The previous owner had the end that attaches to the dock tied with a knot that looks like a noose, probably about 15 turns.

I really like this knot because the turns form a nice handle when im trying to cleat it, and seems to prevent chafing on the dock. The knot seemed more complex than just a noose too, and I cant find the name of it anywhere!

Does anyone know what that knot is called?

Extra points for a link to how to tie it

Thanks Alot!
Matt

[tager]

Rolling hitch? Noose? There are excellent knot sites online. I imagine a rolling hitch may work. Or a prusik.

[Bowhaus]

Now that you mention it, I guess it is just a noose (hangmans knot). I didn't think it would be so simple, I've know how to tie that since I was a cub scout.

Is this standard practice for a spring line? I think the noose adds some springiness, which seems to be perfect for this application.

[ozskipper]

got a photo? otherwise just about everyone here will tell you to use a bowline To prevent confusion the are two terms with the same spelling. 1 Bowline. Pronounced Bo'h line, which is a loop in the end of a rope. 2 Bowline, pronounce "as in dogs go Bow wow", which is a rope from the front of a boat. But this image below is the loop that will become your best friend and one of the most used knots on the water.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...stek_innen.jpg

[zeehag]

i use no knots, but many will tell ye bowline or splice. i like the flexibility of being able to use docklines for other things when under way or at anchor, so they are just lengths of 3/4 in 3 strand line.

[Bowhaus]

Yep, it is just a noose - I thought a variation of it, but the one i just made looks exactly the same as the existing one. New spring line is ready to go!

I am curious if more people use a noose for their spring lines though. Previous owner would sail single handed alot - and pull into the dock, attach the spring line and let it stop the boat right before the dock, as he was grabbing the bowlines. So the spring line definitely took alot of load, and this is the knot he used.

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i use no knots, but many will tell ye bowline or splice. i like the flexibility of being able to use docklines for other things when under way or at anchor, so they are just lengths of 3/4 in 3 strand line.

Agreed. I am not a huge fan of splices because they limit the usefulness of the line. Aside from on permanent docklines where they are pre-measured and made to fit exactly. Its rare that they are ever the right size for anything after that.

[Tony B]

Probably an eye splice with a lot of wraps

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Bowhaus

Yep, it is just a noose - I thought a variation of it, but the one i just made looks exactly the same as the existing one. New spring line is ready to go!

I am curious if more people use a noose for their spring lines though. Previous owner would sail single handed alot - and pull into the dock, attach the spring line and let it stop the boat right before the dock, as he was grabbing the bowlines. So the spring line definitely took alot of load, and this is the knot he used.

Does this noose slip like a hangmans noose? If it doesn't slip it is probably something else. If it does slip I wouldn't be using it for docking.

I am with bowline crowd on docklines but always willing to learn something new...

[bobconnie]

Im with Zee on this one ! I use what ever size line thats needed for the boat size, mostly 3/4 or 1 in in what ever lenght I need, whipped on both ends, they can have many uses on board. I also Always have 1 or two lines with a loop on one end to use as a spring line for docking, to slip over the dock cleat to spring the boat in or out if needed. Just a thought

[HopCar]

Bowhaus, A hangman's knot will tighten under load. I'd worry that it might be hard to remove from a cleat after it has tightened. What has been your experience with the knot tightening?
I have docklines with loops spliced at both ends that are left on my home dock. On the boat I carry six docklines with 30 " loops in one end. Each dockline is the length of the boat. That way I can grab any one of them and know how long it is. The 30" loop is big enough to drop over a cleat or a piling. Most of the ready spliced docklines come with 12 or 18" loops, too small to drop over a piling.

[nigel1]

My guess is that if it was a hangmans knot, then if he was single handing, it was made up with a large loop to get it easily over the dock cleat, and with a pull, would tighten up with little risk iof falling off the cleat. Not the way I go, I use a bight of rope to catch the cleat.
My dock lines are whipped at one end, and eye spliced the other. I got bored, and quite like splicing octoplait rope.

[ozskipper]

Hmm. It may be a half a blood knot without the opposing line...

[Blue Stocking]

Bow haus, Aaaarghh, ye bought an ex-pirate ship.

[stevensc]

I find the best is a BIG spliced eye 3 or4 feet long it fits on cleats also is easy to toss over big pilings. with a bit of practice you can "flip" it up off a piling from the boat.
Steve W