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Author Topic:   Best knot to use on sampson post

andygere posted 05-23-2003 05:47 PM ET (US)
What is the best way to fix an anchor line to the sampson post found on the bow of Classic Outrages? I use a spliced loop on my dock lines, but have not found a satisfactory way to modify a cleat knot to work well on the post for my anchor line.
Taylor posted 05-23-2003 06:36 PM ET (US)
I'll take seamanship for #20, Alex!
I use the last locking part of a regular cleat knot done three times. But the line passes on the aft side of the post rather than over the top on a cleat.
To do this pull the line through the bow chock and past the port side of the post, under the cross. Hold the line in your left hand, grab the section between you and the post with your right, twist half a turn clockwise to create a loop and put that loop over the starboard cross peice. It should lock when you snub it tight. Pull the line back towards you. Repeat by throwing a locking loop over the right cross piece. Snub tight. If you are leaving the boat for a while, do it once more on the starboard pin. Snub tight.
This is really just the last locking part of a regular cleat knot done three times. But the line passes on the aft side of the post rather than over the top on a cleat.
On bigger boats a pass all the way around the sampson post once or twice before locking down makes sure that the post takes the strain and not the cross piece. Not too imporant for anchoring, but a must for towing.
Taylor posted 05-23-2003 06:39 PM ET (US)
That's seamanship for $20...
One thing I never quite got was the correct direction to twist the loops. Since eight people out of ten get this wrong on regular cleat knots, I'm not sure its worth worrying about.
doobee posted 05-24-2003 10:41 PM ET (US)
It's not really a twist, it's a tuck. The last time you go around the cleat tuck the line under the previous loop. After you do that a few times, it will become obvious which way to "twist". Done properly, the line will still look like a perfect figure eight.
Knockerjoe posted 05-25-2003 02:02 PM ET (US)
Go here to see instructions for a Sampson Hitch page 5.3.3 http://vmrs.org/pdf/ch_5_scr.pdf also lots of other info on knots and mooring.

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Author	Topic: Best knot to use on sampson post
andygere	posted 05-23-2003 05:47 PM ET (US) What is the best way to fix an anchor line to the sampson post found on the bow of Classic Outrages? I use a spliced loop on my dock lines, but have not found a satisfactory way to modify a cleat knot to work well on the post for my anchor line.
Taylor	posted 05-23-2003 06:36 PM ET (US) I'll take seamanship for #20, Alex! I use the last locking part of a regular cleat knot done three times. But the line passes on the aft side of the post rather than over the top on a cleat. To do this pull the line through the bow chock and past the port side of the post, under the cross. Hold the line in your left hand, grab the section between you and the post with your right, twist half a turn clockwise to create a loop and put that loop over the starboard cross peice. It should lock when you snub it tight. Pull the line back towards you. Repeat by throwing a locking loop over the right cross piece. Snub tight. If you are leaving the boat for a while, do it once more on the starboard pin. Snub tight. This is really just the last locking part of a regular cleat knot done three times. But the line passes on the aft side of the post rather than over the top on a cleat. On bigger boats a pass all the way around the sampson post once or twice before locking down makes sure that the post takes the strain and not the cross piece. Not too imporant for anchoring, but a must for towing.
Taylor	posted 05-23-2003 06:39 PM ET (US) That's seamanship for $20... One thing I never quite got was the correct direction to twist the loops. Since eight people out of ten get this wrong on regular cleat knots, I'm not sure its worth worrying about.
doobee	posted 05-24-2003 10:41 PM ET (US) It's not really a twist, it's a tuck. The last time you go around the cleat tuck the line under the previous loop. After you do that a few times, it will become obvious which way to "twist". Done properly, the line will still look like a perfect figure eight.
Knockerjoe	posted 05-25-2003 02:02 PM ET (US) Go here to see instructions for a Sampson Hitch page 5.3.3 http://vmrs.org/pdf/ch_5_scr.pdf also lots of other info on knots and mooring.