Taut-line hitch

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Animated Knots show you how to tie Basic Knots, Fishing Knots, Sailing Knots, Climbing Knots, Forty Knots,
Special Knots, and Advanced Knots, for Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class.

Taut-line hitch
Names	Taut-line hitch, Adjustable hitch, Rigger's Hitch, Midshipman's Hitch, Tent-line hitch, Tent hitch
Typical use
Caveat
Releasing
Category	Hitch knots
Related	Two half-hitches, Rolling hitch, Trucker's hitch

“ The taut-line hitch is tied to a line that is tight, or taut. Use it to tighten or loosen a tent guyline by pushing the hitch up or down. Here's how: Pass the line around the tent stake. Bring the end under and over the standing part and twice through the loop you have formed. Again bring the pore end under, over, and through the loop, but this time farther up the standing part. Work any slack out of the knot, then slide the hitch to adjust the tension on the line. ”

— Boy Scout Handbook p. 37

“ The Taut Line Hitch or Rolling Hitch attaches a rope (usually smaller) to another (usually larger) when the line of pull is almost parallel. It can also be used to attach a rope to a pole. ”

— Grog

See The Ashley Book of Knots # 1735, p. 298.

Required for

• Webelos Outdoorsman #11. Demonstrate setting up a tent or dining fly using two half-hitches and a taut-line hitch. Show how to tie a square knot and explain how it is used.
• Tenderfoot #4b. Demonstrate you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch.
• Small-Boat Sailing #7a: Square (Reef) knot - Clove hitch - Two half-hitches - Bowline - Cleat hitch - Figure Eight

Instructions

1. Loop over the top and pull through the hole to make a Half hitch.
2. Loop over the top and through the hole again.
3. One last Half hitch on the outside.
4. Pull tight.

Lesson Videos

• Grog's Animated Knots: Rolling Hitch - Wonder How To Video: Rolling Hitch Knot - Wonder How To Video: Tautline Hitch Knot - Wonder How To Video: Tautline Hitch Knot For Camping - Video: Taut Line Hitch - Video: Uses for a Taut Line Hitch - Video: Taught Line Hitch Knots

Notes

• The Taut-Line Hitch is one of the Forty Knots.

See also

Knots by Use
Basic knots	Overhand knot · Square knot · Granny knot · Two half-hitches · Taut-line hitch · Bowline · Sheet bend · Slip knot · Clove hitch · Timber hitch
Advanced knots	Constrictor Knot · Monkey's Fist · Ocean Plait · Trucker's Hitch · Turk's Head
Special knots	Braiding · Carrick Bend · Chain Sinnet · Cow Hitch · Double Sheet Bend · Sheep Shank
Fishing knots	Arbor Backing Knot · Barrel Knot · Blood Knot · Blood Loop · Clinch Knot · Fisherman's Knot · Improved Clinch Knot · Nail Knot · Needle Knot · Palomar Knot · Surgeon's Loop · Turle Knot
Sailing knots	Bowline on a Bight · Cleat Hitch · Double Bowline · Figure Eight · Marline Hitch · Midshipman's Hitch · Rolling Hitch · Stevedores Knot
Climbing knots	Alpine Butterfly knot · Double fisherman's knot (Grapevine) · Figure eight follow-through · Figure eight on a bight · Figure eight on bend · Figure eight knot · Prusik knot · Safety knot · Water knot
Forty knots	[[]] · [[]]