Tie a perfect cleat hitch every time

In this video the Bottom UP Boats team teach you some simple tips to ensure you can tie a perfect cleat hitch every time. To tie the perfect cleat hitch every time you must have the right size rope to match the cleat.

It may not be possible to always have your rope match the size of the cleat so you need to be able to adapt to ensure your knot is tight and secure, this will avoid an embarrassing and maybe costly moment as your boat sails away for the dock without you.

To tie the perfect cleat hitch when your rope does not match the cleat size you need to vary the turns you take around the base of the cleat. If the rope matchs a half loop cleat hitch will hold, if your rope is a smaller diameter you will need to complete additional turns, stepping up to a full or multi loop cleat hitch.

Depending on the conditions and if you need to spring your boat you may opt of the full loop cleat hitch to have the tail point back towards the boat or a multi loop cleat hitch if you are expecting heavy weather the perfect cleat hitch may be different than the one you usually tie when you take these variables into plan

By understand the relationship between the rope width and the cleat you will be able able to tie a perfect cleat hitch every time.

If you made it to the end of the video you now have the skills to tie a perfect cleat hitch every time, this simple but important skill ensures you can dock your boat with the peace of mind that it will be there when your return !!!!

[nevillecottee]

To belay or to knot belay... Good explanation, but if a professional ever put a hitch on a cleat, he would lose his job. See, “coastguard boating education”

[nevillecottee]

I can’t argue with your reasoning. The professionals hate locking hitches on cleats because they use their boats constantly. Imagine the reaction if they have to leave in a hurry and one jams. Also, lines sometimes need to be quickly adjusted and some situations can get dangerous because of a jammed hitch on a cleat.
Your video is a good one. It might be better if you included the the other side of the debate. That is, what maritime colleges teach.

[mcoop]

From this angle, your “three quarter” inch rope looks more like 3/8’s. Great video though.

[SergeyMartynov]

NEVER ever put your fingers between a line and a cleat. Otherwise you'll end up with severe damage some day.