How to Tie a Cleat Hitch

The cleat hitch, also called the cleat knot, is a basic boating knot that is used to keep a boat secure to a dock. This simple knot uses a boat rope, called a line once on board the boat, to form a figure-eight shape around the cleat to keep the boat in place. Follow the directions below so you can tie your next cleat hitch with expertise and confidence.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boat rope or line
• Boat cleat

1. Begin to make the tie with the line at the ear of the cleat that is furthest away from where the line is coming from which is secured to the load.

2. Bring the line around the distant ear of the cleat and continue around the closest ear to form a base for the rest of the cleat hitch.

3. Cross the line over the middle of the cleat. Loop it underneath the opposite ear on the other side of the cleat.

4. Complete the action again, by crossing the line over the middle of the cleat and looping it underneath the other ear to form a figure-eight over the cleat.

5. Finish the cleat hitch with a half hitch tied underneath an ear of the cleat.

6. Secure the cleat hitch by pulling the end of the line to make sure that the line is tight and secure on the cleat.

Tips & Warnings

• Some experts agree that you can make the cleat hitch tie more secure by using several figure eights stacked on top of each other followed by a couple of circular wraps.

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