Buntline hitch or ?

[Jim Walsh]

I've been reading a book by one of my favorite authors while the blizzard rages outdoors. Eric Hiscock refers to a "topsail sheet bend" with an accompanying photograph of what we refer to as a "buntline hitch". As Winston Churchill so clearly stated "Americans and British are one people separated only by a common language".

[Neil Gordon]

I've been reading a book by one of my favorite authors while the blizzard rages outdoors. Eric Hiscock refers to a "topsail sheet bend" with an accompanying photograph of what we refer to as a "buntline hitch". As Winston Churchill so clearly stated "Americans and British are one people separated only by a common language".

Right, but a Google search turned up this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNTm9vvly70, which is not a buntline hitch. I suspect there's been some name crossing over here and there... and while there are lots of knots, bends and hitches that have separate nautical and land lubber names, it's less likely that sailors would have called the same knot used on a buntline vs. a topsail sheet by two different names.

[gates_cliff]

I think there are colloquial differences. I've heard a buntline hitch referred to as "tautline hitch" before. As stated above, I suspect that mariners and landlubbers have differences as well.

[Neil Gordon]

I think there are colloquial differences. I've heard a buntline hitch referred to as "tautline hitch" before. As stated above, I suspect that mariners and landlubbers have differences as well.

I'd suspect regional or national differences, as well. On the other hand, I'd be somewhat surprised if any knot tied under the command of Admiral Nelson, for example, anywhere in the fleet, had more than one name. On the other hand, it's possible that subtle differences in the way the knot/bend/hitch was tied and/or finished may have existed and have subsequently been lost.

In the 1970's (which is when I stopped noticing), the US Navy had some Atlantic vs. Pacific differences, not in knot names, but more in the sense of casual operating differences... among Signalmen, for example, operator/operator (i.e., non-official) traffic would often conclude with TKS (for "thanks") off either coast. East coast Signalmen would reply DMI ("Don't mention it"), while left coasters would send back STAR (i.e., sh*t, that's all right). There was little mixing of Atlantic/Pacific ships or sailors.

[Jim Walsh]

Here's what I was referring to. Photo "C", and caption "C".

[Neil Gordon]

I'm thinking that it's one thing to have a knot/bend/hitch with two (or more) different names... quite another to have more than one knot/bend/hitch share a name!

Having more than one name is seeming more logical to me now that I'm thinking about it... if I presume that sailors pretty much knew how to do their work... an order to "make ready the topsail" need not include the details of "step 4 - using a topsail sheet bend, attach the working end of the topsail sheet (see illustration 4-2) to the topsail clew (see illustration 4-3)." More likely an old salt would say to an apprentice, "bend on the topsail sheet," followed by, "NO!!!! NOT THAT WAY, YOU BEACH BASTARD!!!"

So perhaps it's not the name of the knot, per se, but more generally, the bend that's used to attach the topsail sheet to the topsail clew. Or maybe it's a wiseass apprentice, who when asked what sort of bend is used to rig the topsail sheet replied, "A topsail sheet bend, Sir."

[Joe Myerson]

Jim's photo is definitely what I have always referred to as a buntline hitch.

--Joe

[Jim Walsh]

I think it's likely the name of the hitch slowly gravitated away from "buntline" which has more relevance on a square rigged vessel to "topsail" in the era when gaff was king and a marconi/bermudian/leg-o-mutton was a novelty.

[Joe Myerson]

I think it's likely the name of the hitch slowly gravitated away from "buntline" which has more relevance on a square rigged vessel to "topsail" in the era when gaff was king and a marconi/bermudian/leg-o-mutton was a novelty.

Probably true. But whatever you call it, it's one of my favorite knots: easy to tie quickly and a devil to untie. Great for halyard fittings and the like.
--Joe

[tjr818]

Just to add to the mix. Does anyone use the Halyard Hitch??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqzJj6lYtj8

[Joe Myerson]

Tjr:

Wow! I've always used the buntline hitch for that function, but that looks like it would work at least as well. Looks strong and reliable, and it could probably be untied if necessary without use of a marlin spike.

--Joe

[John Stone]

I cut off the double braid spliced eyes for all my halyard shackles on the Far Reach and moved to the buntline hitch. I've been very happy with them so far.

[jen1722terry]

I prefer the buntline hitch for attaching my yankee sheet to the clew of the yankee. I then tape off the tail with sail tape.
This compact little arrangement does not tend to snag on the stay like some other knots do.

The problem I see with the halyard hitch is that the tail is facing away from the standing part, so it is not easy to compactly tape off the tail.

But there are probably better knots out there. Who knows?

Terry

[Cathy Monaghan]

Just to add to the mix. Does anyone use the Halyard Hitch??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqzJj6lYtj8

Yep, I do. I use it for the staysail topping lift.

-Cathy Monaghan
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

[Cathy Monaghan]

If you're not sure of which knot to use or when, don't forget that we provide a link to "Animated Knots by Grog". Just scroll to the top of this page and click on the CDSOA logo located at the far left side of the navigation banner. That will bring you to our home page. Then, using the menu on the left side of the page, select "Where to Look" followed by "Animated Knots by Grog".


-Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Webmaster - CDSOA, Inc.