A Perfect Cleat Hitch
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ธ.ค. 2015
- Demonstration of procedures needed to tie a proper cleat hitch, and a review of common errors made when tying a cleat hitch, as generally applicable to small to mid-sized recreational vessels, but not applicable to larger commercial vessels and ships.
When I found this video I wondered how it was going to take over 10mins to teach a cleat hitch. I watched every minute.
Me too!! Really learned this !!
Same here
Me too. I learned the hardly ever used highwaymans hitch on TH-cam last weekend because it sounded cool, but I've been tying my kleet in a shameful manor for years.lol
Same lol
Welcome to sailing. There is always more to know and another way to learn it.
"If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot." Absolutely beautiful! Thanks.
👍😂😆@9:43-9:57 When I walk through the docks at various marinas it cracks me up. 😂
Funny but true.lol
Good one!!
Great video, thanks! 👍🏻
@@lovingatlanta you ok i
Hey guys, this is a great instruction video that is clearly labeled. All the criticism is uncalled for. He didn’t label the video, how to tie off a 15000 ton barge. This is a specific type tie off. If you do it differently, it’s called a different knot.
The video is well done, clear and helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Btw, stop calling it a knot, it isn't, it's a hitch. Considering the number of people admitting they are learners then the criticism is justified, too many people learn how to do it incorrectly if nothing is said. Just wait until you have to find a knife in a hurry and you're cursing the person that created the fix you're in. There aren't different ways to tie off to a cleat, there's only one way, the correct way be it a 2 inch cleat for your washing line at home or the throat halyard on a bluenose schooner.
I agree. So much criticism on this guys video. I used this cleat hitch daily when I worked in a marina. It was perfect for a quick tie when we hauled-out boats before winter hit us. If the slip owner had a problem with the way we tied up we told them to tie for themselves.
It equally applies to all sorts of boats. I've seen people drown because of half hitches on cleats used on dinghies. The only place for a half hitch is on a round turn and two half hitches and a fisherman's bend. I.e used in proper knots which can be proven to be undone under load.
@@jonathansimmonds5784 Hitches are knots. The fuck outa here
@@jeremyrowley1240 how did they drown? Trip over the line?
This is above par for teaching knots... Your slow/steady easy to understand talking, and repeating. and showing whats right and whats not right, and showing from different angles...
Great explanation!!
I could not imagine it could take 10 minutes to explain this very simple thing, but every minute was valuable. Thanks!
Thank you! I love when people not only teach the correct way, but also show the incorrect ways. This helps a lot understanding the subject.
Great presentation utilizing slow speech and visual repetition.
Nice Job to instruct Mariners on the correct and secure way to tie up.
Tom, excellent demonstration on how to tie a perfect cleat hitch. I'm practicing the process from all angles using my girlfriend as the cleat. It works really well.
lolollo
Thank you, I’ve been boating for 20+ years and I have tied some interesting knots on the cleats. Can’t wait to show my husband what I can do since watching your video.
Excellent Guide. Describing how it can be done wrong and why it is wrong is underrated.
My boat could be used as the example of all the wrong things lol. Fixing that today thanks to this video!
Absolutely the best instruction on how to tie the cleat hitch correctly. Thank you!
I really appreciate that you explained the REASON why each action (step) is taken. It is much easier to remember when the reason is clear.
This is a great point you make about knowing the REASON behind the details of what is being taught. Agreed a huge help for retention. All schools/teachers should teach this way, but sadly few do. This guy is not only a master seaman (I would suspect) but clearly is a master teacher. !!
This is by far the best video. Most other videos explain how and what of a particular knot. This explains "why". Its easy to remember now what a cleat hitch is after watching this video.
I know this video is 3 years old, but if I had teachers and professor's that were half as patient and taught, so the information will stay with you. God knows what I could've accomplished in this life.
I'm not afraid to admit, that all these years I started on the wrong side every time. Right now actually the boat and ski are sitting there, tied off incorrectly.
I've actually passed that bad information on. Thinking 30 years makes me an expert by default.
What a fantastic video. Simple and yet I know those lessons will stay with me forever.
Thank you so very much!
John M.
Beautifully explained. I wish every teacher I ever had was as methodical and detailed as you!
Absolutely,.. the skipper is wonderful !!
“If you don’t know how to tie a knot, tie a lot.” Bahahahaaa I’m keeping that. 😂 That’s got to get the Red Green stamp of approval. LOL
After watching this great video instruction, i kept hearing "flip AWAY from the entering line". Will never ever forget this. Thanks!
Thank you for a great video. I used it to teach a friend the cleat hitch for mooring. I've been sailing for more years than half of the citicisers on here have been breathing. I was taught ropework by the RNLI. I would ignore fools that criticise this video because it is perfect for its intended use!
No wonder why this video got 3.4M views after 7 years, because I also found this one the most informative one for learning cleat hitch in the right way. Thank you sir in name of ~3 Million other people who will properly tie their boats from now. :)
Excellent how-to video with clear examples, slow and repetitive demonstrations that teach a clear step-by-step reason for doing it the right way. Now I realize what I've been doing wrong and why it looked right, but may not have been correct. Thank you!!
There’s something deeply satisfying about a simple thing done right.
You are very right.
I really like that you showed the 'what not to do' , excellent tutorial.
A true expert can do the basics, perfectly. You are an excellent teacher.
Best explanation of a cleat hitch I've ever seen. Thank you very much.
I struggled to see how to use a cleat finally a perfect video thanks
I have crew or owned both for most of 50 years +4 years as boatswain mate in the coast guard and 34 years working in a harbor on the docks and this is the best explanation I have ever seen. Thanks
I have to say, in addition to doing a terrific job of explaining the reason for the knot's design you also demonstrate it beautifully. I am fairly new to boating and I have been trying to follow other videos demonstrating knots and they go so quickly I just end up feeling confused. You make it straight forward. Excellent job! I thank you.
Why the hell would someone dislike this video? This is an excellent educational video on how to do this hitch. Thanks for the video! Big thumbs up!
I think it is ridiculous that we have people here trying to compare a yacht to a barge. I assure there are many differences between the two and your average TH-camr is not here learning how to cleat off a barge or carnival cruise line. We all have personal vessels and this is a great demonstration.
Agree.
In my very humble opinion, it is always best to add wraps before your locking hitch based on load, anticipated strain etc. A heavy surge, strong winds, etc has the potential to pull the locking hitch so tight that it's hard to get undone. I believe there really should be no strain on the locking hitch ever. My practice is to make 2-3 wraps before (under) a hitch with the mindset that I may need to adjust this line under tension. If under alot of tension, and made off as shown in this video, as soon as that locking hitch is removed, there may not be enough friction to hold the load with only a single figure eight wrap. I noticed you mention in other comments that this video is intended for vessels up to 50'. I would guess that a 50' vessel could weigh upwards of 25 tons, and with a wind of 20+ kts, I believe that would be alot of weight to hold with just a single wrap on the cleat if you were trying to adjust or cast off the line. I have seen fingers get sucked into cleats under heavy loads due to a lack of wraps.
Teresa and Ben Carey I agree, one or 2 more would suffice
this is true, especially on slippery stainless cleats and smooth braided line. I chased a dinghy that came loose with a perfect cleat knot, but it was 3/8" dinghy painter on a challenger 50 foot sailboats stainless cleat, just the same style cleat as in this vid. but learn the right way before you break the rules is good
I agree with you. But there are many TH-cam channels teaching the method shown. Why is this one copping all of the criticism?
@@nevillecottee7629 is there lots of criticisim? Maybe it's just the sheer number of views?
@@MorseAlphaExpeditions Yes, you are quite right. I’ve given up trying to help because of the stupid reasons those day sailors give for teaching that method.
This is a great video! Thank you! I am glad I found this out. Your explanation was very logical .
Best video on this subject. Only one I've seen that actually explains the reason why this knot is done the way it is, and shows what happens when tied incorrectly. Thank you, Captain. Subscribing to your videos.
I have responded before on this.
But this is my go to video when I think I need a re-fresher.
I seldom get to go out.
But when my Restoration is finished, this is the method I will use until it proves unfit.
Thank you again, and again.
This is the best knot teaching that I've yet seen. This man can teach anything, even to slow
folks like me. I was taught in medschool that repetition is the mother of students. Kudos!
Excellent demonstration and without annoying background music used by so many on TH-cam. Thank you very much!
I agree with you on the annoying background music used by so many. This video was filmed and edited great.
This is one of the best explanations on TH-cam, how to fix a rope to a cleat. I'm a german sailing and powerboat instructor and we teach it the same way.
Recommendation: If you expect heavy loads (wind), use 2 locking hitches.
Some of the comments prefer the british way of tying to a cleat. They call it OXO method. The british sailers don't use a locking hitch, they just go around the cleat twice. One at the beginning, and one at the end. In the middle they use 2 half hitches.
I prefer your method. ;-)
Thx for the video, greatings from germany
Been boating my whole life..... Never seen it explained in this detail. Excellent. Thank you.
Best introduction i`ve ever seen because you explain the impacts if you`re doing wrong. Pls do some more!
Well done! I really like the detail of showing it from different directions. It's just that kind of thing that would throw me off. The principles you outline are good from any direction too.
I was taught years ago by an older friend. I was taught how you explained to do it. Never had a line come loose. But at the marine you see some wild ways people tie up their cleat hitch. your a good man to explain this to many who need to learn this.
Very well done. This is the best explanation on YT I have found so far on using a boat cleat.
I have watched these, but this gentleman is the first one I can understand this knot from...Sorry I was not a Boy Scout. Just an Airplane mechanic, IT Guy. and a family boater.
Same!!
You are a great teacher. To bad life never introduced us…
Till now. Thank you.
I find myself in awe at his teaching abilities. Wonderful video.
Superb tutorial. Demonstrating the right and wrong ways to tie a cleat hitch, with explanations, really drives home why you do it one way
This is the best video tutorial on the cleat hitch I've ever watched. Thank you.
Best video on this topic ever. Great refresher as boating season is about to begin. Thanks Capt Tom
Takes me back 50 years to my Sea Explorer days on Puget Sound. Fond memories of hard work and good times. We prided ourselves how fast we could throw a cleat hitch.
These are simple hitches, and I don't know who this man is, but if your learn them, they are life-long tools like riding a bike, and he has demonstrated them very comprehensively.
Thank you James! mdschool.com/bio_tursi.htm
Top, very well explained...finally someone who brings it over so understandably..many greetings from germany
great tutorial. thanks. about to tie my 1973 San Juan up to my mooring for first time. having just bought it , reno'd it and made the mooring. So this was very useful.
The quality of this instruction was excellent- the best that I’ve ever seen for teaching a beginner. I make no comment on the actual knot because I’m not an expert in this field.
Great Teacher. Shows it correctly several times...also shows common errors. He is the real deal
Dear, thanks a lot for such clear and detailed explanation of how to make correct cleat hitch.
Excellent tutoring! I have been boating for many years, and just used the "tie a lot" philosophy, simply by not knowing that there were better and worse ways of doing it. Thank you so much for sharing!
Finally!! a proper easy to follow demonstration from all angles. Brilliant,
Fantastic explanation. Been boating all my life and haven’t thought much about it but now see I should make some adjustments. Good to know that if you do this you can be confident it will do the job. Thanks.
Locking hitch can jam and be difficult to undo . I do another figure eight then finish off with wrap around base.
I agree with you. But why is this TH-cam channel the only one being criticised.
A good video is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks for keeping us swabbies honest.
I've watched this before and not active enough yet to remember.
But this is so simple once you grasp the basic instructions.
It's simple and effective.
Thank you.
Thank you!! mine use to be the one with 1000 loops (Until now that I learned from you)
Years ago a friend told me something that happened on his dad’s boat.
They we’re tying up to a dock and his brothers were trying to decide what knot to use.
After a couple minutes their dad said, “Forget that sailor shit. Put a knot in it.”
It still makes me chuckle to think of him saying it.
Very nice Captain, really appreciated the tie to teach us the correct way.
All the very best
God Bless.
This is the best demonstration of tying a hitch on the internet. Thank you for doing this.
My daughter is going to work at a lodge on a lake this summer. I want to teach her this so that she is immediately distinguished from the normal weekend buffoons.
This is the best video my wife and I have seen on tying a cleat hitch. Thanks, Captain Tom!
Good refresher when you've been away from sailing/boating for a few years.
Great explanation! As a beginning boater, I was easily able to follow and apply your technique,
I don’t know why people are saying this is weak or there’s better ways. This is the most basic and won’t come undone nor will it be too tight to untie. I’ve worked at a marina for 10 years and have never had a single problem with this method
@ Derek 👍Exactly.
It actually came loose on a 15 tons boat. Lossens up over time, not good for docking up for weeks
MrThepk2 - thanks for letting me know. 🙏
Appreciate you taking the time to explain this fully... not only how to tie it; but why the other ways are wrong. That really helps to lock in the information for me. Thanks!
excellent video!!! ...........It's easy to see why you are an instructor! Very thorough and instructive video!!
Great knot!! I use it all of the time here on Lake Barkley! It is astonishing how few people know this knot.
Edit: Thank you for clearing up which side to come in when starting the knot!
Good instruction and it'll hold any size of vessel. That said, it needs two hands to undo that locking hitch. Here in UK, we're taught by the RYA to use the OXO technique. So you do a loop, just as you do, followed by a cross-over, then another loop. No locking hitch. Then, if you need to undo it, one hand is all that is needed.
2:25 So, the locking mechanism is basically a clove hitch. This video made cleat hitches so very easy to understand!
Got it! Complete round turn and go to opposite side of cleat. Wondered why my hitches gave me stress in releasing! Thanks Cpt. Tom!
Great examples. I love how you show it from all four directions; excellent way to (thoroughly) demonstrate this. I have been guilty myself in the past of "tie a lot." Because you showed the incoming line from all 4 directions, I noticed a pattern that might present a good gut check in the middle of the procedure: If you 'do it correctly,' then the first time you cross over, your rope will always, as it crosses, be running parallel to, and in the same direction as your incoming line (for example, in your last of the 4 incoming directions, the incoming line comes "from upper right," and the first crossing also goes "from the upper right"... toward the lower left). Handy, extra hint, rule of thumb, perhaps? Thank you for the lesson. Terrific video.
I have a seamanship certificate and am an avid sailor. The version of the cleat hitch you show is correct, but is insifficient for some types of rope. It works well with very flexible cordage, and with most double braid cords. However with low friction ropes like polypropylene it will slip. With these cords an extra round turn and an extra locking hitch may be required. I learned this from experience with mooring lines hitched in the "correct" way slipping with potentially devastating consequences.
The rule should be, learn the right knot for the rope.
@@nebraskatpp I know that most things sailing attract vigorous discussion and sometimes even heated argument. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have a seamanship certificate and am an avid small boat sailor. I respect the opinion of anyone who has crafted a living on the waves, but all I know is that if something doesn't work as claimed then it is best to work out a solution that does and talk theory later. The cleat hitch shown does definitely work, and in almost all circumstances does the job, and is quick to tie and untie. However, as a small boat sailor, sometimes a single approach to cleating is inadequate. Boat ramps and docking facilities vary also. I can tell you that a cleat hitch that will hold well on a modern dock with new hardware may not on a dock with larger, smaller, or badly weathered hardware. In cases of the latter I will tie up in whatever way that gives me confidence, unorthodox or not. At the end of the day opinions matter little, but experience does a lot.
The British teach and swear by the OXO cleat hitch, and you might wear yourself out convincing him out of it.
This is a great video regarding a very basic skill! Unfortunately, too often we are in a hurry or distracted at the dock. Even the most skilled boaters and sailors can make the very mistakes pointed out in this video!
Thanks! I dont sail or get out on boats much but i love learning new things and was practicing on my vice on my workbench in my garage and that is really cool!
I went to the Poker Run at The Lake of the Ozarks, for my first time, had to tie off on another boat on their cleat, but f’d it up, and now I can say, nevermore will I be called a landlubber for not correctly tying off the cleat. Thx Captain !👍🏻⚓️
I am very grateful for his teachings. I always take the time to listen to an older person because they always have so much to give and teach to the younger ones. Unfortunately today we have not been educated in this kind of culture of respect for our elders. Thank you very much for sharing this perfect knowledge. I hope someday to be able to teach it also to the youngest ones. Thank you!
I'm old too and don't agree with him. Where does that leave you?
Best tutorial I’ve seen yet. Made it seem very simple! Can’t wait to try it again this weekend 😊
I have to say I stumbled upon your video well trying to get to another video and I'm glad I watched. I don't know your history but I'm guessing you have extensive experience in instruction because that was perfect for my learning style! You should be teaching teachers how to teach, say that three times!
I just got a dockhand job and I really needed this!! Appreciate you!!
Great video and thanks for sharing your knowledge on the perfect perfect cleat hitch!
I've only lived on my sailboats 6 years out of all the years after 1977 , but in all my travails on my boats I could count the times I'v seen a proper cleat on a marina dock on my hands and toes . Funny how hard it seems to be for people who spend 100K + on a boat and won't spend the time learn to tie it right . And for all you who disagree with this way of cleating , all I can say is watch again and get it right and you'll never have another problem as it works perfect from a Com-Pac 16 to a 110' work boat when done right . From 3/8" line to 2" line on the right size line for cleat . If it is not holding your using too small of line for that boat ! I have always carried a knife but never needed it for any of my knots . Sailors from all over the world have spent thousands of years perfecting knots for boats all you need to do is learn them . They work when used right .
But even you haven't grasped the point that mooring ropes shouldn't be cleated off like this on a marina dock. The end is made fast to the dock usually with a spliced eye or a bowline eye then the cleating is done onboard the boat.
@@jonathansimmonds5784 Absolutely correct. If two separate vessels are using the same dock cleat or bollard, the second vessel's crew should "dip" the eye. This allows the vessel that tied up first to cast off without disturbing the second vessel's line(s).
@@frankmiller95 Oh boy... now you have REALLY confused them. About 0.0001% of the guys who have never been on a ship (as crew) will have even the slightest idea of what you are talking about. Just because they have bought a boat doesn't mean they are real sailors. I ALWAYS dip the eye on a piling or bollard. Doesn't help much on an undersized cleat. And none of the weekend warriors who have never held any papers can figure out what I have done or why I did it.
@@jonathansimmonds5784 Unless each slip has two dedicated cleats on the main pier. It can be very handy to be able to slack those two lines from the main pier. It could prevent a breakaway or a sinking in the slip. Since my boat is between two finger piers and the two dock cleats on the main pier are mine and mine alone, I figure eigth right on the dock cleats. Why? Simple. So I can visit the boat and make last minute adjustments to at least two lines without getting on the boat which could be a real problem when the tide is already up chest deep over the finger pier and it is blowing a full storm already. I do not stay on the boat in a forecast Force 4 or 5 hurricane, no way. I'm outta there. I set up my lines so that I only need to slack those two for a storm surge.
Yes, when you have to share those cleats, of course the eye goes on the dock cleat. This is more often not the case, though.
@@growleym504 I agree and @jonathansimmonds when you want to pull the lines from aboard the vessel wouldnt the eye start on vessel cleat then line go around dock cleat and back to being tied off at vessel cleat. So you can loos the line and retreive it as you leave without leaving the vessel.
Excellent introduction to show us again and again.
Thank you , sir.
From Taiwan.
Excellent demonstration. Thank you for taking the time to ensure there will be one less guy "tying alot" down at the dock.
Thank you. This helps. I've been like that last example. "if you can't tie a knot, then tie a-lot" :)
very good , it is very important during a storm to be able to loosen the line -this is the right way
Thank you for showing me this knot. I am a great fisherman, I can drive a motorboat but I never really knew how to do this proper knot and my knots always looked like the “bowl of spaghetti “ that you showed us, maybe a little less lol. This hitch you have shown would take a little practice and the ability to be ambidextrous in some ways but at least the boat won’t float away with an oncoming Gail. I learned the term “Gail” from Captain Bernie, the ship that followed the Edmund Fitzgerald the night it went down. Those guys are still hero’s to me, even though they have passed. Keep sailing.
It isn't a knot.
Under under over half hitch. An old timer taught me that when I was about 8 years old. I’ve never forgotten it!
Just purchased my first boat. This is very clear instruction, thanks!
Perfect presentation! I have done exactly like in the video for over 30 years. Thanks!
I am a newbie to boating. Thanks for taking the time to create a detailed video.
This is one of the first things I teach new crew. Thanks for the great video.
Capt. Tom, I wish that you had been my instructor for boating. This TH-cam is the best I have viewed for basic docking. Thank you.
So well done, explained where anyone should be able to follow. Thank you sir..
Great simple techniques with repetitive instructions followed by reasons behind the steps. Great tutorial for beginners.
An absolutely brilliant video. Very clear explanation of how to tie this hitch as demonstrated by Tom... Thanks
That was me as a sixteen year old, "if you can't tie a knot, tie a lot". Thanks for explaining how to tie a, "Perfect Cleat Hitch".