What is the "Correct" Taut-Line Hitch?

Forget the taut line hitch, use the trucker hitch. Way better.

The one on the left is actually a midshipman's hitch.

As a former Scoutmaster, I have used this knot and taught this knot to hundreds of scouts and scouters(leaders) over the years. Abok is still the most comprehensive reference. A knot can have many names, usually depending on the group using it. Thank you for this video.

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the 2nd is what's in many books
the 3rd is what I use, it looks better, more like a prusik loop
or
a prusik loop

Can we get a reference to the knot book

Aound the back (towards the loop) once. Then around the front in the same direction three times, then around the back again. I have been using this knot for years in sailing and camping applications. It does not slip, but can easily be adjucted.

The explanation of the midshipman hitch first turn vs second turn is not clear. The first is towards the object and the second is away???

Thanks 👍🏼
None of us should ever quit learning 😅. Perhaps sometime you will make a video with bigger rope going much SLOWER so we ( me 😂 )
Can follow along.
I want 2 get into tarping. These knots will speed up. And will also work on the spikes as well as ridge line. To me it looks very much like what they called the presit (?) Knot also 🤔😀.
Great video
ATB

yeah i aware of this... many different tautline... but i like the third one

Taut line in the middle, Magnus in right pic

I like survivormans version.

1857 is the most esthetically pleasing.

I seem to have replaced all of these with the adjustable grip hitch.

I think its problematic to talk of similaritys to other knots as they have different aspects of the knot providing the biting function.
This type of hitch was used by vikings to tightwn the rope that hold the mast sideways. "VANTKNOP" the knot=knop and Vant being the side stabilisation rope.
When this hitch is made on a thin line like in the video one aspect is hard to see. But when a thicker rope its more clear. The dubble loops around the string peovide a length of the knot that create a leaverage on the string. Its not simply abiut the increased surface area but about the increased force that provide higher friction. Thats an element that is not at all the fact when comparing it to a similar knot tied on aseparate string.

Thanks so much for explaining this!

OMG THANK YOU! 😂 I was tearing my hair out thinking I was going mad! Everybody did this not so differently you explained it so beautifully. Thank you.

OH MAN you ROCK! I could SEE what you were doing and your explanations are second to NONE! I thumbed up and subscribed!!!

@martinhafner2201
mentions below that some rope was/is less/more slippery when ABOK was written. Can you do a video on which ropes work best with which knot and vice versa?

Really? 8 min for something that takes 50 sec. We don’t want a history lesson. We all know you’re very smart.

fantastic - the care you've taken in producing this is outstanding - and the education totally unexpected and a delight

I'm sure many who view this will have had no idea there were so many knots as outlined in Ashley's Book of Knots - he would have been proud to see your video

Very clear, thank you. I use different ones depending on how hard it's raining and how steep and slippery the slope I'm standing on 😂

Great video, thanks. Also loved the history.

I'm an 1857 fan. Never "learned" it but used it for guy lines and based it on a prusik.

Like most things, there’s more than one right way to do it.

🇵🇬🇵🇬,,,

1855 (or midshipman) is the most secure and holds its knot tightness after adjusting without redressing. If you want a "set it and forget it" knot, it's the best choice. However, it's a bit tougher to learn and takes some practice to get the crossovers on opposite sides of the knot where they belong. The trick is to leave the first loop quite loose until after the second loop has been tightened.

1856 (or taut-line) is very easy to learn and works fine for many purposes, but it can't be cinched down as tight at 1855 and must be redressed after most every adjustment. However, it shines when tied around a pole or branch, rather than a rope, where it holds better than 1855.

The pleasing symmetry of 1857 (or magnus) is easy to remember visually, so you'll be able to reason it out if your memory goes fuzzy. It's awkward to tighten, though, without opposing ends to pull. I find it slightly less secure than 1856.

(Most of my experience is with paracord. Results may differ with other materials.)
Good video. Thanks for posting.

great video

Explanations and references 👍

Your camera angle sucks for making a how to video

Yes! Ashley's book of knots! Well done.

My Boys Scout days 1962-1964, I learn the 1857, the third type. We use it putting on our tent, the teacher is inspecting it if we did it right.

Im a 1857

Excellent video. With that in mind, the tag end for all of these knots are on the same side of the standing end in ABOK. What matters is whether the working end follows follows the original lay over the standing end.

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I ❤ Ashley's Book of Knots!

I use the latter two only because I sometimes mixup the last half-hitch :-)

When using slippery line you can use the magnus and it's look-alikes, but give it an extra wrap. I do this anyway with paracord, especially if it's new and slippery.

1857 is the most elegant and is pretty much a “self prussic”

"One of these... is KNOT like the others. One of these kids is doin his own thing" Shout out to Sesame Street

Though it doesn't look as pretty as the others, I really prefer the midshipman's hitch for the reason that you mentioned: It can handle some tension. That also means one can tie it under some existing tension which comes in more handy than one would expect. Usually I like to go with two inside wraps as well for a bit more friction on the line.