What Knots on ratlines? (edited by admin)

[jd99]

Currently doing the rat lines on my Fair American, and was wondering what type of knots some of you do.

 

I am using a clove hitch to tie my rat lines to the shrouds. Do any of you use another kind of knot to tie your rat lines?

 

The rat lines are the most time consuming and monotonous type of rigging I think.... Be glad when this is done.

 

Thanks

Danny

[Ulises Victoria]

I will start tying ratlines in my Vasa pretty soon. I'm starting a mental preparation to get ready for hours upon hours of clove hitch knots tying. (Yes, this is the right knot to use here)

 

Patience, my friend.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Ulises Victoria

[dgbot]

Depending on the scale a clove hitch is the only way to go.  At smaller scales a simple overhand knot will suffice.

David B

[Richard Griffith]

Yup, as David and Ulises commented, clove hitches are the knots to use.  BUT, if your scale is small, then you could simply push a needle thru the shrouds, and just use an overhand knot on the outside shrouds.  Apply a drop of diluted white glue; do not use CA.  By small, I mean the ratlines look good with the needle method.

 

If it gets too boring, work on the yards, or the anchors, or the launch, then come back another day.

 

Duffer

[Ulises Victoria]

Had to look up what a cow hitch knot was, and you are absolutely right!

[Tony H]

Found this excellent video tutorial, well worth a look

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMmGFWJhi8E

[captainbob]

I know most MSW members say no CA on rigging, but at the end of the video he says when he is finished he will go back and put CA on each knot.  Why not CA on rigging?

 

Bob

[Ulises Victoria]

Bob:

CA may be an option, but I prefer diluted white glue or flat clear lacquer because these have enough strength to do the job and will not leave a shiny spot or a white residue, nor run through my lines making them stiff, brittle and prone to break.

 

Just my personal preference. 

[Q A's Revenge]

I wish that video was a little bit better quality because he makes it look so easy! Good tip on the hook as well so thanks for posting that Tony.

[Craigie65]

Good video. To keep the spacing consistent I read that cutting a piece of card to the required spacing helps. It certainly helped me! Now to look up a cow hitch!

 

Found it - good old Wikipedia

Edited November 12, 2013 by Craigie65

[dgbot]

One of the main reasons for not using CA on riiging knots is after awhile the knot will become britle and might break.

David B

[Dan Vadas]

Actually, the CORRECT way to tie a Ratline is to EYE SPLICE the two outer ones, and use Clove Hitches for the inner shrouds. The pics below show how I did them on my Norfolk Sloop :

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "Cow Hitch" (I can't remember if that's the correct name for this knot) is an alternative that looks much neater than a Clove Hitch for the two outer ones, as Janos mentioned. Here's how to tie them :

 

 

 

 

Note the tails of the Cow Hitches are both on the lower part of each knot, meaning that the two knots are mirrors of each other.

 

  Danny