View Full Version : Knots for tightening Tarp Ridgerope
wanderinstar
17-07-2005, 16:41
What sort of knot do you use to tighten the ridgerope with. I have Rays book and have mastered the Evenk figure of eight hitch, but the other end eludes me.
Help someone. Please.
Ian.
arctic hobo
17-07-2005, 17:48
I just put in an overhand loop, pass the bitter end around the tree and do a round turn through the loop. Then you can pull it tight (on a smooth tree anyway) with 2:1 purchase, and the bark friction and round turn hold it taut enough to make two half-hitches and a locking turn to secure it. I'm not sure how much sense this makes in text! If it's none, shout and I'll put some piccies up this evening.
wanderinstar
17-07-2005, 18:46
Cheers Hobo,
Piccies would be easier to understand [hopefully]
Ian
mojofilter
17-07-2005, 19:34
I use the truckers hitch for anything that needs tensioned, cant find a good illustration at the moment. Sounds pretty much like hobo is saying.
mojofilter
17-07-2005, 19:37
http://www.nhamcpaddlers.org/images/truckers_hitch_small.gif
Which book are you looking in? I've got essential bushcraft in front of me and the 'Tarp Taut Hitch' on page 137 is the knot I use at the second end. It looks pretty self explanatory to me, and is a very good knot for securing the second end of your ridgeline. If you can't envision the tying of this knot, watch bushcraft series 1 and Ray shows these knots being tied. Picture perfect pause helps a lot with this, video would be a nightmare!
I use the truckers hitch for anything that needs tensioned, cant find a good illustration at the moment. Sounds pretty much like hobo is saying.
Try this link
http://uk.geocities.com/zzar_bean/dk2.html
It is also called a dolly knot, the version you posted a picture of may not release as easily as a truckers hitch/dolly knot. It is a lot easier to use if you have a hook to pass the loop over so th knot is made in the rope without passing the end through. If there is no hook a krab works.
In the Scouts, we were taught to use the "tautline hitch." You do a half hitch, add one or more additional turns around the standing part, then a half hitch around the standing part ABOVE the first (multiple turn) hitch. When complete, pull up slac
Pictures available at www.iland.net/~jbritton/tautlinehitch.htm
Squidders
18-07-2005, 00:26
I use an evenk knot and a prussiky type thing to get it tight...
Good advice I got that rings true is you can forget knowing every knot known to man by just putting loads of manky knots in a rope.
I've used this before and although it may take an hour to undo the knot(s) what really matters is that you don't get wet/fall on the floor/fall down a cliff. ;)
Joe
mojofilter
18-07-2005, 03:01
Try this link
http://uk.geocities.com/zzar_bean/dk2.html
It is also called a dolly knot, the version you posted a picture of may not release as easily as a truckers hitch/dolly knot. It is a lot easier to use if you have a hook to pass the loop over so th knot is made in the rope without passing the end through. If there is no hook a krab works.
You're right Goose, but it was the closest pic I could find :rolleyes:
Hi,
I use an Evenk at one end and do the following at the other, hope this makes sense! :)
For the other end I wrap the rope round the tree and pass it over over the standing part (ridge line), pulling it tight. Then come under the standing part and back round the tree, pull tight, go over the standing part and pass it back under the line and round the tree again.
Each time you do this it tensions the line a bit more, several passes and you can get it nice and tight. Onve you have it tight you can finish of with any knot you like to secure it, I use a chain like knot that comes undone with one pull like the Evenk one.
There, clear as mud!
Simon.
I use a midshipman's hitch on one end and either same again or a highwayman's hitch on the other
I use the facloners knot at one end: http://www.bcfalconry.ca/info/falconers_knot.pdf
like the evenk knot this can be tied with one hand and is quick release.
at the other end i use the same tensioning knot as slimey describes.
if you are coming to the july Bushmoot there will be a workshop on knots including putting up a basha
In the Scouts, we were taught to use the "tautline hitch." You do a half hitch, add one or more additional turns around the standing part, then a half hitch around the standing part ABOVE the first (multiple turn) hitch. When complete, pull up slac
Pictures available at www.iland.net/~jbritton/tautlinehitch.htm
Grew up in Cincy... learned that same know in scouting, still use it great deal :D
Buckshot
20-07-2005, 15:36
I use the taughtline hitch (didn't know its called that though) when securing loads and all sorts of jobs. Uses minimal baler twine :)
Cheers
Mark
The end I want to ancohor is normaly a highwayman's hitch and the end I want to tighten is half sheep shank, similar to the truckers hitch mentioned before., Both these knots will come undone when you can't feel your fingers.
This all depends on myu mood and the weather though. The evenk overhand knot I use sometimes, as well as a prussicky thype thing.
steven andrews
20-07-2005, 20:38
I've got Hilleberg guy line and line runners on my tarps, but the knot to use is the tautline hitch, which is a rolling hitch tied back onto the standing part.
Do you not find that the tautline can slip with synthetic cord as it runs on its own standing part? That's why I prefer the midshipman's configuration. :)
innocent bystander
21-07-2005, 18:17
Do you not find that the tautline can slip with synthetic cord as it runs on its own standing part? That's why I prefer the midshipman's configuration. :)
:confused: :confused:
http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/tautline.html
Midshiman's hitch = tautline hitch ?
:confused: :confused:
:confused: :confused:
http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/tautline.html
Midshiman's hitch = tautline hitch ?
:confused: :confused:
They are slightly different in an important way - the tautline has two half hitches one after the other , the midshipmans has the two half hitches tied loose intitially so that the second pulls in front of the first. This creates more friction - this is great for slippery synthetics but makes it harder on a rough thicker rope. Horses for courses. Your link actually points that out, though not as clearly as actually trying it. I still don't fully understand the mechanics of it but try tying both and you'll sit there scratching your head like i did :)
Here. This shows the difference much better
Hitches (http://www.ropeworks.biz/reader/tautline.pdf)
Although trying them is the best way :cool:
Brokenman
02-07-2008, 16:18
try the sliding sheet bend
try the sliding sheet bend
Think you may be a bit late with that answer there brokenman.
I use an evenk knot and a prussiky type thing to get it tight...
Good advice I got that rings true is you can forget knowing every knot known to man by just putting loads of manky knots in a rope.
I've used this before and although it may take an hour to undo the knot(s) what really matters is that you don't get wet/fall on the floor/fall down a cliff. ;)
Joe
:lmao: Yeah. If you can't tie knots, tie lots :slap:
High on Hex
25-07-2008, 09:21
Before i learnt a few knots i used a karabiner and a bungee. Sad but true!
Before i learnt a few knots i used a karabiner and a bungee. Sad but true!
Hey - if it works who's to argue :D
This is a good site for tarp knots etc
http://www.outdooridiots.com/features/200606/pitchingatarp/pitchingatarp.asp
It taught me how to tie the Penberthy Prusik, which is a great tarp knot.
Graham_S
25-07-2008, 10:27
bungee cord actually isn't such a bad idea. It allows the tarp a bit of give in high winds, and then it will return to position when th wind drops.
Less danger of torn tarps in stormy weather.
bungee cord actually isn't such a bad idea. It allows the tarp a bit of give in high winds, and then it will return to position when th wind drops.
Less danger of torn tarps in stormy weather.
Completely agree - bungees are useful as well in limited space and as long you know how to do it without a bungee (oo-er) in case you lose / forget one then they are a cracking solution - plus my ex army mates will tell you that its the best way to put one up (but that could just be the REME for ya!).
Celt_Ginger
25-07-2008, 11:51
I use the Evenk and the Tarp taut hitch. I never knew either knot until I went to Woodlore's fundimental bushcraft course. I took a bungie in the eye last year at Cadet camp, blood everywhere. I was lucky not to lose my eye, and would never recommend them. Ropes are much safer and if you practice your knots often you can put up a ridge line as quick with knots as with bungies
Bob_about
25-07-2008, 12:14
I`m getting better with knots - each time the forum has a thread like this I`m prompted to practice more and have some lengths of tape & rope here by my desk to loop round table legs, chairs and from a nail driven into one of the beams above my head - it can even be quite theraputic!
But, for what its worth, I still love my karabiners and thule load straps. Having wandered onto here via UKRGB and SOTP, krabs and straps are part of my basic kit and anything that can hold a canadian canoe onto the car at 80mph can hold me (in a hammock) or a tarp above the ground reasonably well.
The straps can lie flat round the tree (I have several 4 & 5 meter ones) avoiding any rubbing or damage to the bark and the cam buckles allow tightening / slackening to & from the krab as needed.
Until I get better with the knots and know from experience the ones I can easily tie and untie before and after loading I`m afraid I`m a way off being a rope & knots only guy.
Having got the lines up though, a loop of para cord is a really easy way to create a prussick for securing tarps where you want them.
crazydave
06-08-2008, 20:54
I recently got some hammock toggle ropes which are fantastic, no knots as its all predone. working out a similar process for tarps using normal two hole flat clothing toggles. I'll post something when the toggles turn up.
still a great fan of bungees cos I'm too lazy to spend an hour knotting up. seeing all the saggy tarps at the weekend has only reinforced my opinions :)
Minotaur
08-08-2008, 22:14
Before i learnt a few knots i used a karabiner and a bungee. Sad but true!
Put a link up for Youtube of Wilderness Outfiters, and his versa trap uses bungees.
Seems like a good idea to me, especially the way he does it.
He also uses the Nitelize s thing in small for guylines.
Completely agree - bungees are useful as well in limited space and as long you know how to do it without a bungee (oo-er) in case you lose / forget one then they are a cracking solution - plus my ex army mates will tell you that its the best way to put one up (but that could just be the REME for ya!).
You know what REME stands for of course
Rough Engineering Made Easy
I have used cuts from a commercial inner tube (punctured of course) for this type of thing in the past, costs nothing from a tyre fitters which left me loads of the stuff for fire making.
You know what REME stands for of course
Rough Engineering Made Easy
.
Funny me dad is ex Signals and he completely agrees :lmao:
The falconers hitch would have been a great knot for the poor guy whose gas meter I changed today. I shall regale the tale of woe and misery for you now, although it does have a happy ending!
The guy was talking about going to play with his bird whilst I was doing the meter exchange, I sort of heard him but just wanted to get on. He obviously wanted me to go "Eh?" and I think may have been slightly dissapointed when I didn't. therefore, he told me that his "bird" was in fact an eight week old kestrel. That grabbed my attention!
He said that it was fledging and was getting a bit of air under his wings now and then, if I liked I could take a look after I finished the job. Damn right I will! The kestrel was beautiful, bought for 200 quid from a guy in Wakefield who he calls on if he needs any help. He's like his mentor. He took the bird from its platform thingy and held on to the jesses, a leash connected it to the platform. The guy was obviously taking great care of the bird and you could see the pride and devotion he had for it. I envied him to be honest. I cannot afford the spare time to keep such a magnificent creature so have to settle for watching them in the wild. Anyway, he put the bird back and tied him onto the platform. Next thing we now, "Weeeeo!" and off he goes! The bloody knot pulls undone and the little blighter flies off into next doors' window, turns about and does one towards the big blue sky! :eek:
I was worried for this guy, 200 quid was flying off. The bloke was no longer in the same garden as me, he can fair shift over a garden fence! Fortunately, the fact that the bird is only just learning to fly coupled with the fact that it had just been fed meant it didn't get very far. The fellah brought the bird back and tied him to his platform with some "can't tie knots, tie lots!" type knot and I would have liked to show him the falconers' knot but I don't know it. I showed him the siberian hitch instead.
Pretty exciting though, and what a beautiful creature. One day, probably when I'm retired so that i can give it the time it requires, I'd like to keep a little kestrel.
I use a variation on the prussik I invented myself. Works pretty good.
Evenk hitch one end, tarp taut hitch other end (as shown on www.outdooridiots), blake's hitch (it's a tree climbing knot) for tensioning tarp on ridgeline.
the evenk slippery hitch can be done in 5 secounds flat then at the other end i tighten the rope by going around the tree smooth or rough tree it doesnt matter bring the string end under the tightend side back around the tree and so on each time you do this it tightens the original string then make a loop and put the bended loop through pull tight and repeat once more to make sure
Tautline hitch animated
http://www.animatedknots.com/rollinghitchclimbing/index.php