This side takes load... Pull to spill...
Make fast to tender Lead near to hand
 |
| Tumble HitchFrom www.animatedknots.com The wooden dowel represents the anchor's shank |
Seek the wisdom that will untie your knot.
-- Rumi
Tumble Hitch: A Useful Knot for Rowing Out an Anchor
Rowing out an anchor in a gale or more of wind is serious business.
After considerable experimentation, the method we settled on is as follows:
- One of us takes position at the bow, one in the tender.
- The anchor and chain are transferred to the tender.
- Line is paid out from the boat as the tender works to position.
- The line is made fast at the boat (by signal or pre-arrangement).
- Chain is paid out from the dory by hard rowing against the fixed line.
- At the perfect moment, the anchor is thrown from the tender.
- Anchor is set from the boat.
Sounds simple, right?
Well... we find that sitting toward the tender's bow depresses it to lower windage, while the stern lifts high and acts as a riding sail for easier rowing into the wind (avoids blowing off, beam on).
Tossing the anchor and last bit of chain over, clear of oars, locks, one's own feet and the gunnel is no mean feat. It can hang up in a number of ways that all fail more or less dangerously.
Enter the Tumble Hitch - a variant of the Highwayman's Hitch.
The latter was said to have been used by thieves who tied their horses with this easy-to-tie, quick-release hitch for a fast get-away. Only problem is that it's not very stable and can capsize and release prematurely. The Tumble Hitch was devised in 2004 by Dan Lehman as a more stable solution.
What's unusual about both hitches is that, where others take one or more round turns around whatever they're hitched to, these open like a hand releasing. For anchoring purposes, that means a clean, anti-fouling release without unraveling any round turns.
The Tumble Hitch doesn't slip quite as readily as the Highwayman's... consider a smoother finished, braided line similar to the one shown. Laid and 'textured' lines have enough friction to require one or more harder pulls to release.
So here's the drill...
Well... we find that sitting toward the tender's bow depresses it to lower windage, while the stern lifts high and acts as a riding sail for easier rowing into the wind (avoids blowing off, beam on).
Tossing the anchor and last bit of chain over, clear of oars, locks, one's own feet and the gunnel is no mean feat. It can hang up in a number of ways that all fail more or less dangerously.
Enter the Tumble Hitch - a variant of the Highwayman's Hitch.
The latter was said to have been used by thieves who tied their horses with this easy-to-tie, quick-release hitch for a fast get-away. Only problem is that it's not very stable and can capsize and release prematurely. The Tumble Hitch was devised in 2004 by Dan Lehman as a more stable solution.
What's unusual about both hitches is that, where others take one or more round turns around whatever they're hitched to, these open like a hand releasing. For anchoring purposes, that means a clean, anti-fouling release without unraveling any round turns.
The Tumble Hitch doesn't slip quite as readily as the Highwayman's... consider a smoother finished, braided line similar to the one shown. Laid and 'textured' lines have enough friction to require one or more harder pulls to release.
So here's the drill...
- Make fast to the tender, slightly aft of center, with the line end that holds strain.
- Tie the hitch around the anchor just behind the flukes, let hang a foot or two below the tender's bottom.
- Lead the spill end up and slack to a point handy to the oars(wo)man
- Row on out to position.
- Pull the slip end to release.
We haven't tried this yet, in any harsh weather. But initial tryouts are promising.
Definitely feels safer!
Definitely feels safer!
*****
Here are some animated tutorials for the Tumble Hitch:
http://www.animatedknots.com/tumble/index.php
https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/tumble-hitch
Great new knot, Dave! I've used a slippery hitch in the past, but this looks a lot more secure - once you've learnt how to tie it. Another good tip is to make a little 'roller' to go over the stern of the dinghy. Basically it's just some plywood cheeks with enough width between them for the chain and rope to run out. A bit of brass adds longevity. And you attach it to two pieces of plywood that slot over the transom, so that it's removable. Saves knocking seven bells out of the transom.
ReplyDeleteHi Annie,
DeleteI should have credited this variation of the Highwayman's Hitch to Dan Lehman (named by 'Roo').
Great tip on the stern chock for laying out anchor! Great for sculling, towing, crab pots, a fishing pole and other uses, as well.
We've mostly paid out over the side, as we can hold and release tension on the rode with a foot while sitting forward (our tender is a 16ft dory). Many folks use a stretch of split polyethylene pipe to protect the gunnel, with perhaps a stop at the aft end to keep it on the pipe.
We're not yet so organized, of course!
Dave Z
Posted on behalf of JOHN:
ReplyDeleteDave,
That tumble hitch is a great knot. Your description of it "opening like a hand" is apropos.
Hi John,
DeleteThat's definitely the coolest feature of the knot, in my book! I ran across the Highwayman's in 'Handbook of Knots' by Des Pawson. Didn't really jump out at me until I tried it while trying to come up with some lacing approaches for our prototype sail. Then it just jumped right out at me.
That principle of opposable thumbs come in pretty handy!
Dave