How to Tie a Ski Rope to a Boat

Making a secure connection between your boat and the rope towing a skier can mean the difference between recreation and frustration. You need a knot that's strong, easy to tie and one that won't capsize, whether under a strain or not. Several different knots will work well, including the venerable bowline, but the anchor hitch makes short work of the problem, won't pop off of the boat and, with a little practice can be tied quickly.

Instructions

1. Slip the ski rope through the boat's towing ring on the towing pylon and wrap it completely around the vertical post of the towing pylon, leaving some slack in the line.

2. Bring the end of the line, called the bitter end, over the top of the main part of the ski rope, called the standing part, and downward, then bring it upward through the loop around the vertical post.

3. Bring the bitter end over the top of the standing part and around the standing part, as if beginning to form a loop. Insert the bitter end under the line you just turned around the standing part and pull tight.

Tips & Warnings

• Pulling either end of the line secured by an anchor bend will draw the knot tighter.

References

• "The Ashley Book of Knots"; C. W. Ashley; Random House, 1944; p. 309

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Grog's Boating Knots