This is a very useful hitch for tying down loose canisters, drums, spars, or jerrycans, or for providing tension to a halyard that may be needed as an emergency rigging stay.
It’s origins, as with many knots, was on the square riggers where a line was needed to put further tension on rigging utilizing dolly’s ( wooden pegs ), that were stationed at various parts of the rope standing rigging.
It’s also called a truckers hitch because truckers used it to secure down cargo on a trailer.
- Tie a slippery half-hitch in middle of rope to make a loop – tie at the end
- Make a turn around a cleat and bring end up to loop
- Now pull down the tail of the hitch until good tension is achieved and secure with two half hitches.
