You're correct that the two half hitches is handy if you need to
release it under load, but there are a limited number of times you
need that. Traditionally, when two half hitches is used in
"permanent" rigging aloft it is seized to insure it won't come loose.

When you say you take "two or three turns" before tying you are
actually describing two different knots - either the "round turn and
two half hitches" or the "rolling hitch." As I said, there are
variants that are superior. I think you agree with me, but didn't
realize these are considered different knots.


Garland Gray II wrote:
You are welcome to your opinion, but I think that is a rediculous statement.
A granny knot is clearly a knot done in error, but two half hitches can be a
very handy knot if a line needs to be tied or released while under a load.
I usually tie the half hitches after two or three turns around the piling.

"Jeff" wrote in message
...

Two half hitches is an almost useless knot. There are variants that
are vastly superior, but two half hitches by itself is about as useful
as a granny.

Garland Gray II wrote:

I'd put two half hitches on that list, right behind the bowline

"MMC" wrote in message
.com...


I agree with advocates of the bowline for the following reasons: 1) it

will


not come untied until you want it to, 2) when you want it to- you can

untie


it, and 3) it devalues the breaking strain of the line less than other
knots. In this I mean that if a line is put under heavy strain, it will
break at the knot before it reaches it's stated breaking point because

of

the bends required to form the knot will break first.
I'm a firm believer that a boater only needs 3 knots; bowline, clove

hitch,


and square; along with a good idea of when to use each and the ability

to

do


so quickly.
MMC (Navy coxswain, Navy and commercial diver, sailor, and all around

nosey


*******)

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
m...


On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 11:36:43 -0700, "Gordon"

wrote:


What's the best knot for attaching the sheets to the jib? Gotta be
something better than the "pesky wabbit around the tree and down the

hole"


knot.

Are you really having trouble making a bowline? Sure, you can use

other

knots to tie sheets to the jib. But they're going to be just as

"pesky"

and if you're a sailor, you should know how to make a bowline quickly
anyway.

Steve

Garland Gray II wrote:

I'd put two half hitches on that list, right behind the bowline

Would you call that a reef knot, or a granny?

Terry K

"MMC" wrote in message
m...

I agree with advocates of the bowline for the following reasons: 1) it

will

not come untied until you want it to, 2) when you want it to- you can

untie

it, and 3) it devalues the breaking strain of the line less than other
knots. In this I mean that if a line is put under heavy strain, it will
break at the knot before it reaches it's stated breaking point because of
the bends required to form the knot will break first.
I'm a firm believer that a boater only needs 3 knots; bowline, clove

hitch,

and square; along with a good idea of when to use each and the ability to

do

so quickly.
MMC (Navy coxswain, Navy and commercial diver, sailor, and all around

nosey

*******)

"Steven Shelikoff" wrote in message
. ..

On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 11:36:43 -0700, "Gordon" wrote:


What's the best knot for attaching the sheets to the jib? Gotta be
something better than the "pesky wabbit around the tree and down the

hole"

knot.

Are you really having trouble making a bowline? Sure, you can use other
knots to tie sheets to the jib. But they're going to be just as "pesky"
and if you're a sailor, you should know how to make a bowline quickly
anyway.

Steve

In article ,
Terry Spragg wrote:

Garland Gray II wrote:

I'd put two half hitches on that list, right behind the bowline

Would you call that a reef knot, or a granny?

Two half hitches are neither reef knot nor a granny. Nor are the reef
and granny the same.

Now, one knot that I use all the time that I don't know the name of is a
relative of the first: a half hitch with a loop taken through the hitch
instead of the bitter end. I use it to gasket the main and temporarily
set the fenders. Releases by simply pulling on the free end. Can be
locked by taking the loop through a second hitch. Very handy and very
fast to undo, even under fairly high strain.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Hi Gordon,
I think the best knot for attaching sheets is no knot, at all. I have an 'eye' woven
into the middle of my sheets, to which a snap shackle is attached. For quick and clean
attachment/removal, I don't think any knot can beat that.

Sherwin D.

Gordon wrote:

What's the best knot for attaching the sheets to the jib? Gotta be
something better than the "pesky wabbit around the tree and down the hole"
knot.
Thanks
Gordon

--

Ask not for whom the terrorist bell tolls; it tolls for thee, and thee, and
thee--for decent, innocent people everywhere.

Do you know a Dave Crew? Came from your background and I worked for him for
a while.
"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 17:56:45 GMT, "MMC" said:

Went through 2nd Class at NSDS in '82

I predate that a bit. Finished NSDS in '69.

Jere Lull wrote:
In article ,
Terry Spragg wrote:


Garland Gray II wrote:


I'd put two half hitches on that list, right behind the bowline

Would you call that a reef knot, or a granny?


Two half hitches are neither reef knot nor a granny. Nor are the reef
and granny the same.

Actually, two half hitches and the granny are the same knot,
topologically speaking. (Tie a granny and pull one line tight to
collapse the other ...)

In Jeff writes:

Jere Lull wrote:
In article ,
Terry Spragg wrote:


Garland Gray II wrote:


I'd put two half hitches on that list, right behind the bowline

Would you call that a reef knot, or a granny?


Two half hitches are neither reef knot nor a granny. Nor are the reef
and granny the same.

Actually, two half hitches and the granny are the same knot,
topologically speaking. (Tie a granny and pull one line tight to
collapse the other ...)

Then one should notice that a reef knot and the cow hitch or lark's head
are the same knots. :-). (By the same argument.)

- Lauri Tarkkonen

In Dave writes:

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 00:33:55 -0500, sherwindu said:

I think the best knot for attaching sheets is no knot, at all. I have an 'eye' woven
into the middle of my sheets, to which a snap shackle is attached. For quick and clean
attachment/removal, I don't think any knot can beat that.

I take it you haven't heard the horror stories of foredeck crew's losing
teeth when a metal snap shackle on the jib starts flailing about.

There are even some cases when the snap shackle has opened because it
has caught some lifeline wire or something else.

NOt only teeth but an eye and some broken bones and fingers belong to
the list of casualities of a wildly flailing genoa and a snapshackle.

The smallest and most reliable knot is by far the lark's head.

- Lauri Tarkkonen

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
Hi Gordon,
I think the best knot for attaching sheets is no knot, at all. I have
an 'eye' woven
into the middle of my sheets, to which a snap shackle is attached. For
quick and clean
attachment/removal, I don't think any knot can beat that.

Sherwin D.

Gordon wrote:

What's the best knot for attaching the sheets to the jib? Gotta be
something better than the "pesky wabbit around the tree and down the
hole"
knot.
Thanks
Gordon

--

Ask not for whom the terrorist bell tolls; it tolls for thee, and thee,
and
thee--for decent, innocent people everywhere.


I think this is a very bad idea... those shackles can do a lot of damage in
high winds. Fast isn't necessarily best.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 14:55:13 GMT, Rich Hampel
wrote:

Sheetbend is notorious for capsizing unless you double wrap it.
Better to use a Zeppelin bend.

One of my favourite knots. I use it to tie leather thongs for
medallions and whatnot. Has never failed in the corrosive conditions
of my neck.

R.