The heaving line bend is a

knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ' ...

for securely joining two ropes of different diameter or rigidity. It is often used to affix playing strings to the thick silk eyes of an anchorage knot in some stringed instruments. In nautical use, the heaving line bend is used to connect a lighter messenger line to a

hawser Hawser () is a nautical term for a thick cable or rope used in mooring or towing a ship. A hawser passes through a hawsehole, also known as a cat hole, located on the hawse.The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, third edition, ...

when mooring ships. It is knot number 1463 in '' The Ashley Book of Knots'', and appeared in the 1916 Swedish knot manual ''Om Knutar''. The heaving line bend is similar to the

sheet bend The sheet bend (also known as becket bend, weaver's knot and weaver's hitch) is a bend. It is practical for joining lines of different diameter or rigidity. It is quick and easy to tie, and is considered so essential it is the first knot given ...

and the

racking bend The racking bend is a knot for joining two ropes of different diameter. "Racking" refers to the figure eight weaving that binds the bight of the larger rope together. It serves a somewhat similar purpose as a Sheet bend, a Double sheet bend or ...

, and may be used to pass a thick rope to a distant receiver by first throwing the end of a thinner rope which may be weighted with a

monkey fist A monkey's fist or monkey paw is a type of knot, so named because it looks somewhat like a small bunched fist or paw. It is tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw, and also as an ornamental knot. This type of ...

or a

heaving line knot A heaving line knot is a family of knots which are used for adding weight to the end of a rope, to make the rope easier to throw. In nautical use, a heaving line knot is often tied to the end of a messenger line, which is then used for pull ...

Tying steps

The heaving line bend is tied the same way as the sheet bend with one difference: the final crossing of the thin end is done in the opposite direction, so the thin end points away from the thin line, essentially in the same direction as the thick end, towards the thick line. This avoids jamming when the thin line is pulled to carry the thick end out of reach. #Make a

bight The word is derived from Old English ''byht'' (“bend, angle, corner; bay, bight”). In modern English, bight may refer to: * Bight (geography), recess of a coast, bay, or other curved feature * Bight (knot), a curved section, slack part, or loo ...

in the larger line. #Pass the lighter line around the standing part of the bight. #Cross between the larger and the lighter line on the back side. #Finish by tucking the end between its turn around the standing part of the bight and that leg; pull tight.

References

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Tying steps

See also

References