Swing hitch

Swing hitch

SWING HITCH
Category Hitch
Efficiency firm, strong, secure says ABOK
Related Clove hitch
Releasing Easy
Typical use swing, weights with pendulum movements
ABoK 1693 (unslipped version)

Swing hitch is a way to tie a swing rope to a branch or other horizontal beam. Ashley describes it in ABOK as ".. firm, strong, secure, and easily untied once the load has been removed."

Tying

  1. A clove hitch is tied around the beam with the rope end.
  2. The end continues around the beam until it meets the main part.
  3. The end goes around the main part and then gets stuck under the previous cross of the main part; in other words under the main part and the bridge of the clove hitch.
    • The end may be slipped for easier dismount or
    • The end may be tied to a stopper knot for more security against loosening under use.

If the swing is to have two parallel ropes, the standing parts both must hang from the same side of the branch, otherwise there will be forces rotating the swing seat right and left. Swing hitch reduces such forces by having the end pull the main part towards the middle of the beam and fixing it there; Using a simple clove hitch would cause more of these disturbing rotational forces.

If the swing is attached to a living tree, protecting the sap carrying live layers of the inner bark may be necessary; A grabbing knot such as swing hitch rather than a loop knot such as a bowline for the swing, avoiding sawing type of movements of the rope, using a cambium protector that is soft towards the tree bark and slippery on the rope side are suitable measures of tree protection while using the swing hitch.

See also

References

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