Tie a perfect cleat hitch every time

[@nevillecottee7629]

To belay or to knot belay... Good explanation, but if a professional ever put a hitch on a cleat, he would lose his job. See, “coastguard boating education”

[@BottomUPBoats]

Lucky I not a pro, just an enthusiastic amateur. Same concept of additional loops on thinner lines work if you OXO. I think this is what the coast guard recommends 👍

[@nevillecottee7629]

If a dozen boating enthusiasts discussed their ways, you’ll likely get a dozen different ideas. Their reasons are sometimes interesting.

[@BottomUPBoats]

@Neville Cottee very true, one of the great things about our sport. So much to learn and different ways of doing things that can be debated in the bar for hours, or in this case on line as the Bars are still closed in Belfast due to the COVID lockdown 😫 I use this one if I am way from my mooring and there is a storm coming. I would prefer to have to cut it free when I return rather than searching for the boat which is not where it was supposed to be.

[@nevillecottee7629]

I can’t argue with your reasoning. The professionals hate locking hitches on cleats because they use their boats constantly. Imagine the reaction if they have to leave in a hurry and one jams. Also, lines sometimes need to be quickly adjusted and some situations can get dangerous because of a jammed hitch on a cleat. Your video is a good one. It might be better if you included the the other side of the debate. That is, what maritime colleges teach.

[@BottomUPBoats]

@Neville_Cottee , the other side of the debate "OXO" is definitely on my to do list for this winter. We could then do a comparison video and let the comments fly :)

[@nevillecottee7629]

I look forward to seeing that. You might get a million views.

[@nevillecottee7629]

@@BottomUPBoats .. This video should interest you. “Sgt knots cleat hitch dock line”. With a small line on a big cleat, figure eights work much better than round turns.

[@BottomUPBoats]

@@nevillecottee7629 I will be sure to check it out. Thanks for sharing.

[@mcoop571]

From this angle, your “three quarter” inch rope looks more like 3/8’s. Great video though.

[@BottomUPBoats]

It was quite a while ago so I must admit I can’t remember the exact details, nor do I have the rope to remeasure. Thanks for stopping by and for leaving such a positive note, glad you found it useful.

[@SergeyMartynov]

NEVER ever put your fingers between a line and a cleat. Otherwise you'll end up with severe damage some day.

[@BottomUPBoats]

Good advice Sergey. It you get the right amount of turns around the cleat and match it with the right line width you should have minimal slippage before completing the last part of the hitch. With that said totally agree it is best not get your fingers between the line and the cleat.