What is the Half Hitch used for?

Finishing off other knots by locking the end so it can't slip; Forming the two half hitches knot, widely used to tie ropes to posts and rings; Building the clove hitch (two half hitches in opposite positions over a mast); Temporarily securing a rope to a hook or stake; Starting pioneering lashings, which often lock off with a half hitch.

How do you tie the Half Hitch?

The Half Hitch is a single turn of the rope around an object, with the end passed through its own loop. It's one of the fundamental building blocks of seamanship: alone it's weak, but repeated or combined it forms strong hitches like the clove hitch and two half hitches. Follow the illustrated step-by-step, with a photo for every stage, on Desbravai.

Is the Half Hitch hard to tie?

The Half Hitch is rated easy, in the Basic Knots category and is taught with a photo at every stage on Desbravai.

What precautions apply when using the Half Hitch?

A single half hitch isn't secure for load: it needs a second half hitch or another lock; Under an oscillating load it can loosen if it isn't pulled tight against the object.

Half Hitch

Q: What other names does the Half Hitch have?

It is also known as Half Hitch, Cote, Medio cote, Media vuelta, Meia-Volta, Cote Simples, Demi-clé. (ABOK #50)

A single wrap of the rope around an object, the basic building block of hitches and the clove hitch

Also called: Half Hitch, Cote, Medio cote, Media vuelta, Meia-Volta, Cote Simples, Demi-clé · ABOK #50

What it is for

Finishing off other knots by locking the end so it can't slip
Forming the two half hitches knot, widely used to tie ropes to posts and rings
Building the clove hitch (two half hitches in opposite positions over a mast)
Temporarily securing a rope to a hook or stake
Starting pioneering lashings, which often lock off with a half hitch