Pile hitch

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Pile Hitch
Pile hitch
Category Hitch
Related Marlinspike Hitch, Icicle Hitch
Releasing Non jamming
Typical use Used as a mooring hitch to attach a line to a dock or post.
ABoK #1815

The pile hitch is a kind of hitch, which is a knot used for attaching rope to a pole or other structure. The pile hitch is very easy to tie and can be tied in the bight, without access to either end of the rope, making it a valuable tool.

A pile hitch may be easily and quickly tied either in the end or bight of a heavy line. It is remarkably secure and is easy to cast off when the left bight has been loosened by a single well-aimed kick. Recommended for medium and heavy lines.

Tying

To tie, form a loop in the bight, and wrap both strands of this loop around the pole near the pole’s end. Pull the loop around and under the rope, then finish by putting the loop itself around the end of the pole.

  • Form a bight and
    Form a bight and
  • wrap the bight around the pole and under the rope.
    wrap the bight around the pole and under the rope.
  • Put the bight itself around the end of the pole.
    Put the bight itself around the end of the pole.
  • Tighten the hitch and ready.
    Tighten the hitch and ready.

See also

References

  1. Ashley, Clifford W. (1944). The Ashley Book of Knots, p.306. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-04025-3.

External links


This article is adapted from “Pile hitch” on Wikipedia, written by its contributors, and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text on this page is available under the same licence. Source snapshot: Wikipedia via Kiwix, 2026-07-20.