Best knot for shortening a line (temporarily)

[SaltyMonkey]

So, a survey:

What is the best knot to shorten a line temporarily, such as tidal changes, or springs or such knots?

The sheepshank is a bit loosey goosey…

What do you use or suggest?

Can you invent something new and improved?

SM

[ryon]

Rolling hitch, onto itself?

[nigel1]

I've always used a sheep shank to shorten a line, with a some sail makers twine to keep it together.

[sparrowhawk1]

Why wouldn't you just uncleat it and take up the slack? Or let slack out

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

Why wouldn't you just uncleat it and take up the slack? Or let slack out

Because there are 12 other lines on the cleat.
Because sometimes its not your boat
Because there are 12 other lines on the dock post
Because I'm lazy and in a hurry.
Because we're talking temporary.
Because its not always a line on a cleat or a boat line

because because because

[Steve Bean]

One way to make a sheepshank more secure is to use a clove hitch at each end rather than just one half hitch, and tighten up well.

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Steve Bean

One way to make a sheepshank more secure is to use a clove hitch at each end rather than just one half hitch, and tighten up well.

nice !

[jjt]

The best knot for shortening a line is the "nudo margarita" in spanish.
I'm sorry but don't know its name in english.
You can see it here:
Saber marinero, Nudo de Margarita

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Because there are 12 other lines on the cleat.
Because sometimes its not your boat
Because there are 12 other lines on the dock post
Because I'm lazy and in a hurry.
Because we're talking temporary.
Because its not always a line on a cleat or a boat line

because because because

Why would you have 12 lines on a cleat? Just kidding. I guess my two favorites are to have the line go around an object and back onto itself with a rolling hitch or to an Alpine butterfly. Depending on how slippery the line is and how often I'm going to adjust it

[minaret]

Franciscan knot works pretty good for this. Fast to tie and undo. Not great for shortening really long lengths.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

So, a survey:

What is the best knot to shorten a line temporarily, such as tidal changes, or springs or such knots?

The sheepshank is a bit loosey goosey…

What do you use or suggest?

Can you invent something new and improved?

SM

Excellent questions .

I often need to shorten the line on our anchor buoy while swimming and end up tying a disgusting looking combination of knots. I have been too lazy to explore the options .

After you posted a comment about the Sheepshank in the Zeppelin thread, I hunted a little and found a variant called the "Man-o'war sheepshank". Wikipedia says "The man-o'war sheepshank is a sheepshank knot with a Handcuff knot in the middle. This configuration with the half-hitches formed close to the central knot is used in rope rescue and is called a Fireman's chair knot."

This is the diagram that was shown. Anyone have any experience with this knot?

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

Excellent questions .

I often need to shorten the line on our anchor buoy while swimming and end up tying a disgusting looking combination of knots. I have been too lazy to explore the options .

After you posted a comment about the Sheepshank in the Zeppelin thread, I hunted a little and found a variant called the "Man-o'war sheepshank". Wikipedia says "The man-o'war sheepshank is a sheepshank knot with a Handcuff knot in the middle. This configuration with the half-hitches formed close to the central knot is used in rope rescue and is called a Fireman's chair knot."

This is the diagram that was shown. Anyone have any experience with this knot?

Yes a man o war has just an extra loop in a sheepshank. Its a pretty knot. Still the outer half hitches are lousy goosy IMHO

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by jjt

The best knot for shortening a line is the "nudo margarita" in spanish.
I'm sorry but don't know its name in english.
You can see it here:
Saber marinero, Nudo de Margarita

its a sheepshank

[SaltyMonkey]

Can't believe only two knots exist for this.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by minaret

Franciscan knot works pretty good for this. Fast to tie and undo. Not great for shortening really long lengths.

I am not familiar with this knot and can't find anything under this name that could be used for shortening.

Do you have a link? Or could you tie a Franciscan knot and photograph it?