How to Tie a Marline Hitch

A marline hitch was originally used to lash long objects such as a yardarm on a sailing vessel. This hitch also was used to tie wire trees before the invention of the tie wrap. Today, the marline hitch most common use is to secure long bundles of brush for disposal. The following steps will show how to tie a marline hitch.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Assume that you are tying to a horizontal pole and that the standing end of the rope is on your left. Hold a section of the standing end horizontally along the front of the pole.

2. Bend the rope upward at a right angle and wrap the working end over the top of the pole. Pull it back up from the bottom of the pole and bring it over the horizontal section formed in Step 1.

3. Push the working end under the turning made in Step 2 at the right angle and dress the marline hitch by pulling the working end tight.

4. Make a series of marline hitches as this knot is not used individually. The marline hitch is not a secure knot and is distinguished from a simple overhand knot only by the horizontal section of rope separating the knots. A row of marline hitches must be started and ended with a securing knot such as a constrictor, timber or double marline hitch.

5. Observe the advantage of a row of marline hitches. The hitches can be tightened with a single horizontal pull on the working end, although each hitch should ideally be tightened individually.

Resources

• Learn more about knot-tying at Real Knots.