General Rope Work

1. General Rope Work Adult Core Instructor Bends & Hitches Monkeys Fist ACISEA 03

2. A Heaving Line is a light, flexible line with a small weighted end that can be thrown. It is used as a messenger to pass hawsers from ship to shore, or vice versa. It consists of approximately 30 metres of 10mm cordage, with one end whipped and the other end weighted with a Monkey's Fist or Heaving Line Knot. The Monkey Fist

3. A monkey's fist is a knot which is designed to create a tight ball at the end of a line of rope. The ball adds weight to the rope, ensuring that it can be thrown accurately across a long distance. Sailors have historically used the monkey's fist to throw so-called heaving lines between ships and onto shore. The Monkey Fist

4. The monkey's fist is also used by climbers and others who would have need to toss a line of rope to a specific and distant location. The Monkey Fist

5. Wind three turns round the hand. Tying the Fist

6. Pass a second set of three turns across and round the first three. Tying the Fist

7. Pass a third set of three turns round and across the second set, but inside the first set and in the direction shown by the arrows; if the knot is correctly made the end will come out alongside the standing part. Tying the Fist

8. To finish the knot, work all parts taut and splice the end into the standing part; alternatively, tie an overhand knot in the end and finish it by tucking it inside the monkey’s fist, then work all parts taut as before. Tying the Fist

9. Questions?