The trawler yacht comes from its working cousins, the trawler fishing boat and the tugboat. Whether by tradition or preference, these yachts are often equipped with Bitt and / or Bollards like their relative. Of course they have studs too, but the Bitts and Bolards are there to do the big jobs.

Now if you have a trawler yacht, you might want to know the correct way to secure a line to one of these babies. Well let’s see them first because there are many styles. If your boat doesn’t have them all (and I’ve never seen one that does) then you need to pay attention anyway because the docks you stop at sooner or later are likely to feature the other styles, especially if you’re traveling around. the world as the trawler people like to do.

Bitts and Bolards are heavy construction devices for belay lines. Bitts can be classified as single, double, H-Bitt, cruciform, and others. Bollards can have a single post, double posts (either vertical or angled outward from the center), cruciform, staghorn, and many other styles. Sometimes the bitts are called bollards and vice versa.

Lines rely on friction to keep them attached to Bitts, Bollards, Dowels, Lines, or other things. Friction increases with what is called the normal force. The normal force is the perpendicular force between two objects. So, for example, when the load on a line increases (the ship moves away from the dock and the line tension increases), the normal force between the line and the bollard increases and the friction increases. If the total friction from the connection to the bollard is greater than the force on the line to the ship, the connection is maintained.

Lines can be secured to Bitts and Bolards in such a way that they can be quickly released or made with a more permanent layout. The first of these methods has the problem that a boat pulling a line can cause it to come undone or, alternatively, if a line is positively tied, it can be difficult to undone when necessary. The obvious difficulty with using a pre-tied line loop is that its size has to be predetermined, which may not be possible when the intended object for the bitter end is not in sight. A lasso may not be a secure way to attach a bollard. However, it can be used as a lark’s head with a double cruciform bollard which would be a very safe accessory in my opinion and can be quickly released if you don’t have a load on it. If it is loaded, it cannot be undone easily. Another way to more securely attach a loop to a single Bollard post is to place the loop over the bollard and form another loop behind the bollard by making a half turn on the loop and then bringing the resulting second loop over the bollard to the front. . A larger loop is required for this, but the result is more secure than simply dropping a loop over the bollard.

The spit has been called the king of knots. Nothing can jam it. It will never slip if done correctly. It can be tied in the hand forming a loop that can be dropped on a ribbon, bitt, or stacked or formed around a tie ring.

A nail or rat line hitch is a convenient knot for making a quick line to a mast, the foot portion of another line, a pile, or a bollard. It is used to temporarily hold a line, but should be watched as it could come undone if it becomes loose. However, when under stress, it will not slip, but when under strong stress, it will stiffen and can be difficult to release.

The usual methods of securing a line to a double Bitt is to loop the first post and then wrap the line in a pattern of eight over both posts of the Bitt. This arrangement can be quickly removed when necessary. Securing the bitter end of the line coming out of the Bitt in a wad can increase safety. On a single post bollard, the usual way is to tie multiple hooks to the bollard or slide an appropriately sized line loop over the bollard or as described above. The cross pieces on the bollard can help prevent the loop from coming off the bollard, but I prefer to make sure the line doesn’t accidentally come off.

Next up is the Lighterman’s rear mooring hitch, which can be used on a single post, on a pile, or for heavy trailers. Also known as the tug hitch and the reverse tie-down hitch, it is a well-known and very reliable little number that, like the eight described above, can be undone even if there is a massive pull on it. It works well when you want to tie to a bollard, perhaps while waiting for a lock or taking water, etc. and can be tied or untied in moments.