May 2012

Mastering marlinespike

Hawser bend

Useful for joining two ropes of unequal sizes, the Hawser bend is helpful when joining a light line to a very heavy line. It’s frequently used to join a heavy line (towing hawser) on a large ship with a lighter towing line on a smaller vessel.

A. Always make the bight in the thicker line. Then pass the bitter end of the lighter line under the loop and weave it, much like a shoelace, four or five times.

B. End the knot with a half hitch.

C. Shape and tighten it to prevent capsizing when the load is applied.

Original materials used with thanks to Irene Rodriguez and John Bennett

   Tweet