A Clove Hitch is used to tie a rope around an object.
Primarily, the Clove Hitch is used for attaching a line with a light load to either a horizontal or a vertical post, pipe, tree etc.
The Clove Hitch is quite often a temporary knot around a dock piling or post, because it is so quick and easy to tie.
How to Hang a Fender from a Rail
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1. Hang the fender over the side of the boat.
2. Position the line on the rail.
3. Pass it around the rail and come back on the left side of the standing line
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4. Pinch the lines with your left hand to hold the fender at the right height (better to hold the rail and the lines together for stability). With the right hand, pass the line over the rail again.
5. Pull the line through the loop you just created.
6. Pull snug.
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7. Clove Hitch is complete
8. We prefer to lock in place with a half hitch or two. Pass the line around the standing line.
9. Bring the end back through the loop you just created.
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10. This is your first half hitch.
11. Tie a second half hitch by going around.
12. Pull the end up through.
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13. Pull snug. You have a Clove Hitch locked in place with a couple of half hitches.
Video
How to Hang a Fender from a Rail at the Stanchion Post
To hang a fender high on the side of a sailboat with safety cables, it is best to tie it at the top of a post, so it doesn't stretch or break the cable. Similarly, on a power boat, to tie so the knot doesn't slide along the bowrail, the Clove Hitch can be tied to the rail on both sides of a stanchion post.
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1. Lower the fender.
2. Position the line over the rail or cable to the left of the post.
3. Bring the line back on the left side of the standing line.
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4. Hold the weight of the fender with the left hand (preferably steadying yourself with your hand on the rail). Pass the loose end over the rail to the right of the stanchion post.
5. Bring the end back through the loop you just created.
6. Pull snug on the right side of the post.
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7. The Clove Hitch is tied stradling the post.
8. The fender can be pulled fore or aft but won't move from the post. Add a couple of half hitches to lock it.
Video
How to Hang a Fender from a Stanchion Post
To tie a fender (or anything) to any vertical post, tree, piling, etc., In this example, we are hanging a fender to a stanchion post on the boat.
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1. Position the fender at the height you want it.
2. Pass the end of the line around the post
3. and over the standing line.
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4. Then around the post again, back through the loop you just created, passing the end over your second trip around the post, so that your end is coming between the two loops.
5. Pull snug and your Clove Hitch is complted.
6. A Clove Hitch makes it possible to raise or lower the fender by pushing the line through the knot.
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7. With the extra slack at the end of the line, add a half hitch or two to lock it.
8. Slide the knot to the base of the post because it will slide down anyway. If you are tying to a wooden post or piling or tree, they are rough enough that the knot will not slide down.
Video
Conditions
The Clove Hitch knot is very fast and easy to tie and untie. It can work loose, so it’s best used as a temporary or light-duty knot where not too heavy a load is going to be applied.
It will shake loose when tied in poly or new nylon. To avoid this, add a half hitch around the standing line to hold it secure.
Because the Clove Hitch can slip and bind, some condemn its use in boating. However, because it can slip, it's ideal for hanging fenders on a rail or post. You can use the “slip” to adjust the height of the fender and adding a couple of half hitches will prevent it from coming undone. Fenders on recreational boats aren’t heavy duty, so binding isn’t a problem.
You wouldn’t use the Clove Hitch to tie a dock line on a large yacht or ship because the heavy load could cause the line to slip. A Round Turn and Two Half Hitches would be a better choice. On a dinghy or canoe in calm water for a short time, a Clove Hitch would be fine—just as it was for tying horses to a hitching post.
The Clove Hitch is an alternative knot to the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches. It is less likely to slip or slide along the bow rail or post because with more load, it tightens more; whereas, the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches doesn’t tighten, it is a constant tightness.
The Clove Hitch shouldn’t be used alone as a permanent or overnight knot, because without locking a couple of half hitches on it, it can slip undone.
So, the preferred alternative for a knot with a big load, would be a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches or even better, a Bowline. If you are concerned about a bowline slipping down the post, wrap the line around the post a couple of times, then tie the bowline snug to the post.
Examples of use
Use a clove hitch to tie a fender to a bow rail or cockpit railing.
Tie a boat or dinghy temporarily to a post.
Cowboys used clove hitches to tie their horses to the hitching posts or railings.
Create a temporary clothes line by tying a cord or light rope between two convertible/camper top bows.
Tie an inflatable temporarily to a swim platform support or a tight dock line.
Tie a grocery bag onto a door handle as an extra galley garbage bag.
Hang a back yard swing from a big old horizontal tree branch. Locked with a couple of Half Hitches, it won’t slide along the branch. The Clove Hitch makes a better hinge for a swing than a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches.
To board a boat on a trailer, tie a ladder to the side of a trailered boat with a Clove Hitch on the ladder and on the boat rail. This will keep the ladder from sliding sideways.
On an extension ladder that has two parts to it, you would use a Clove Hitch with a couple of locking half hitches to tie the lifting end of the line. The line is then strung up through the pulley at the top, then back down to your standing position. A Clove Hitch makes a perfect knot to tie up the end of the line once you have the ladder lifted or lowered to the height you want it. This second Clove Hitch tidies up the loose end so it is not blowing in the breeze or getting under your feet as you carry the ladder.
Brenda prefers the Clove Hitch to the Round Turn and Two Half Hitches for tying fenders. She holds the rail and fender line with her left hand to steady herself and take the weight of the fender at the same time. Then, it is easy to tie the Clove Hitch over her hand. Once she slides her hand away, the fender can’t fall, making it really easy to add a half hitch or two. (This tying method shouldn’t be used, if there is a heavy load on the line, as it could tighten on your hand).
Most often, the boat is moving, the deck may be slippery, you may be leaning over a low rail or reaching around canvas in the rain and/or wind, or rushed by an approaching storm, so the easier it is to tie a fender without sacrificing the safety of the crew, the better.
Being able to adjust the fender height is the real advantage to the Clove Hitch. You can push the line through the knot—either up or down without fear of losing the fender; whereas, with a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches, you have to untie the Half Hitches, then retie them after adjusting the height of the line.
Using a Clove Hitch for hanging fenders is dependable, reliable, and is much easier and safer than the many fender gadgets on the market.
There are no snaps to break loose or jam.
No roller-style breaks that jam or let loose at the wrong time.
Nothing to drop overboard, to buy or replace.
No special storage required.
Knots are suitable in all situations.
You can tie as many knots as needed for free.
Clove hitches work in unusual places like hanging a fender on the side of your dinghy or the swim platform or in an awkward position when rafting with another boat, when hanging a fender horizontally against a post or high dock/wall.
With a Clove Hitch, you can tie a fender at the top of a stanchion post with half the knot on the rail on one side of the post and the other half on the other side of the post. Locating a Clove Hitch in this manner on a bow rail or life lines on a sailboat, the knot won’t slide because it’s locked both sides of the post and won’t put a strain on the safety cable.
Variations
To secure a clove hitch to not come loose, finish with a half hitch or two.
Like a Rolling Hitch, add an extra wrap around a post with the first hitch, then tie the second hitch or even a third hitch. This will reduce or eliminate the chance of the knot sliding.
When using a clove hitch around a vertical post or piling, where you don’t want the knot to slide downwards or along the post e.g. towing a log or deadhead behind your boat, start by passing the rope around the log twice, then finish with the pass through. If the log is really slippery, pass through a few more times. It’ll hold and come untied easier after a load is applied.
Prepare Yourself and Your Crew
Practice this knot as you did the others until you can tie it with one hand with your eyes closed. One stormy night when the fenders have to be hung, you’ll be glad you know how to quickly tie a Clove Hitch.
Have fun with your ropes, lines & knots.
Knots are Free and Reliable.
Learn them once and use them forever, year round.
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Quite often, when tying knots on a boat, especially when tying fenders, the boat is moving, the deck could be slippery, you are probably leaning over the rail, your hair could be blowing in your eyes--you know the story.
You should always practice the "One hand for the boat and one hand for the job" rule when hanging fenders. Hanging on is most important!
Learn how to tie knots using one hand to steady yourself (hang on) while tying with the other hand.
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