| The trawler yacht stems from its working cousins, | | | | double cruciform Bollard which would be a very |
| the trawler fishing boat and the tugboat. Whether it | | | | secure attachment in my opinion and it can be |
| is tradition or preference, often these yachts are | | | | released quickly if it does not have a load on it. If |
| equipped with Bitts and / or Bollards just like their | | | | loaded it cannot be easily undone. Another way to |
| relatives. Of course they have cleats as well, but the | | | | more securely attach a loop to a single post Bollard is |
| Bitts and Bollards are there to do the big jobs. | | | | to place the loop over the Bollard and form another |
| Now if you have a trawler yacht, you might want to | | | | loop behind the Bollard by making a half twist in the |
| know the correct way to belay a line to one of | | | | loop and then bringing the resulting second loop back |
| these babies. Well, first let's look at them because | | | | over the Bollard toward the front. A larger loop is |
| there are many styles. If your boat doesn't have all | | | | required for this, but the result is more secure than |
| of them (and I have never seen one that does) then | | | | just dropping a loop over the Bollard. |
| you should pay attention anyway because chances | | | | The bowline has been called the king of knots. |
| are the docks that you pull up to will sooner or later | | | | Nothing can jam it. It will never slip if properly made. |
| present the other styles, especially if you travel | | | | It can be tied in the hand forming a loop that may be |
| around the world as trawler folks like to do. | | | | dropped over a cleat, Bitt, or piling or formed around |
| Bitts and Bollards are heavily built devices for belaying | | | | a mooring ring. |
| lines. Bitts may be classified as single, double, H-Bitt, | | | | A Clove or ratline hitch is a convenient knot for |
| Cruciform Bitt and others. Bollards may have a single | | | | making a line fast to a spar, the standing part of |
| post, double posts (either vertical or angled outward | | | | another line, a piling, or a Bollard. It is used to |
| from center), Cruciform, staghorn, and many other | | | | temporarily fasten a line, but it must be watched as |
| styles. Sometimes Bitts are called Bollards and vice | | | | it might undo if slack. When under a strain, however, |
| versa. | | | | it will not slip, but when under a hard strain, it will set |
| Lines rely on friction to keep them attached to Bitts, | | | | up tight and may be difficult to break loose. |
| Bollards, Cleats, Lines, or other things. Friction | | | | The usual methods of securing a line to a double Bitt |
| increases with what is called normal force. Normal | | | | is to make one turn on the first post and then wrap |
| force is the perpendicular force between two | | | | the line in a figure eight pattern over both posts of |
| objects. So, for example, when the load on a line | | | | the Bitt. This arrangement may be removed quickly |
| increases (the boat drifts away from the dock and | | | | when necessary. Belaying the bitter end of the line |
| the line tension increases) the normal force between | | | | coming off the Bitt on a cleat can further security. |
| the line and the Bollard increases and the friction | | | | On a single post Bollard the usual way is to either tie |
| increases. If the total friction of the connection to | | | | several hitches to the Bollard or to slip an appropriate |
| the Bollard is greater than the force on the line to | | | | sized loop of line over the Bollard or as described |
| the boat, the connection holds. | | | | earlier. Cross pieces on the Bollard can help keep the |
| Lines can be secured to Bitts and Bollards in such a | | | | loop from slipping off the Bollard, but I prefer to |
| way that they can be quickly released or made with | | | | ensure that the line will not accidentally come off. |
| a more permanent arrangement. The first such | | | | Next is the Lighterman's Back Mooring Hitch which |
| method has the problem that a boat tugging on a line | | | | may be used on a single post Bollard, on a piling, or |
| can cause it to become undone or alternatively, if a | | | | for heavy towing. Also known as the Tugboat hitch |
| line is positively tied off it can be hard to undo when | | | | and the Backhanded Mooring Hitch, it is a well known |
| required. The obvious difficulty with using a pre-tied | | | | and much trusted little number that, like the figure |
| loop of line is that its size has to be predetermined | | | | eight described earlier, can be undone even if there is |
| which may not be possible when the intended object | | | | a massive pull on it. It works well when you wish to |
| for the bitter end is not in sight. A loop may not be a | | | | moor to a Bollard - maybe whilst waiting for a lock or |
| positively secure way of attaching to a Bollard. It | | | | taking on water etc. and can be tied or untied in |
| may be used as a Lark's Head however with a | | | | moments. |