The Knotty Professor
By special request, the Knotty Professor has again returned to the scene, bringing tips and techniques to the "marlinspike-challenged" in the ranks of the boating world.
One of the toughest jobs is to tie a good permanent hitch with polypropylene line. Some varieties of this material is very slick and gives most knots the slip! The reason for this is that the working part of most knots holds only by friction from being tied around the standing part, as in the two half hitches.
Here's a knot that attains its security from being tightened against the spar...the tighter the pull from the standing part, the tighter the knot renders against the spar. It's called the Buntline Hitch. Some will recognize it as the very same knot some men use to tie a tie, leaving the loose end to dangle behind the standing part. This one works even with the slickest poly! It is a small, compact, and effective hitch. Caveat: if left for a long time under strain, it may require a knife to remove it!
The Buntline Hitch
Check this link again soon for more tips!
