If you are a boat owner, you already know the value of tying a line properly to a mooring cleat. That’s where the Cleat Hitch comes in.
It’s the knot you use every time to secure a line to a cleat. It’s easy to tie, secure, and release quickly when needed.
But it is also one of the most often mis-tied knots you’ll see around docks.
In this guide, I will walk you through three variations of the Cleat Hitch and explain when to use each.
Cleat Hitch Details
Type: Hitch
Other Names: Cleat Knot
ABoK Referene: NA
How to Tie a Cleat Hitch
This is a standard Cleat Hitch and is most popularly used in North America:
- Start at the far horn and wrap the rope around the base of the cleat under both horns.
- Bring the rope over the top of the cleat.
- Wrap the rope under the far horn and then back over the top of the cleat.
- Make an underhand loop and slip it over the near horn.
- Pull the free end to tighten.
You have tied it correctly if:
- The free end exits in the same direction that the loaded line enters the cleat.
- Only three lines are present above the cleat (for heavy loads, extra wraps help).
- It forms an X pattern over the cleat, with one line on one side and two lines on the other. An easy way to remember it: Two rivers running under one bridge.
Common Mistakes
- Starting out in the wrong horn: Always start on the far horn with he line below the horn and not crossing it over.
- Too many wraps: This only bulks up the cleat and makes it harder to release the line.
- No locking Hitch: It tends to come loose if a locking hitch is not added.
- Slack in the knot: A loose knot will slip off the cleat.
Pros & Cons
- Popularly used for mooring in marinas and docks.
- Easy to tie.
- Locks under tension and stays secure.
- Unties quickly even under load.
- Gentle on rope, does not wear rope.
- Easy to tie it wrong under pressure.
- May fail if you use this knot on a cleat that is too small ot too large for your rope.
Application and Uses
- Secure dock lines, jack lines, tow lines, painter, and halyard to a dock.
- Secure the jib sheets or halyard to a mast.
- Beyond boating, it’s used to tie a rope to a post.
OXO Variation (Full Wrap Cleat Hitch)
The OXO variation is the traditional style of tying a line to a cleat, still popular in Europe.
Here’s how it is tied:
- Start with a round turn around the far end of the cleat. That’s your first “O.”
- Cross over both horns to form the “X.”
- Finish with another wrap to form a second “O.”
Sometimes, people add a half hitch around the far horn after the “X” for extra grip.
The idea behind this version is that the round turns jam the line to the cleat if the direction of the load changes.
Skippers who leave their boat for a day or two prefer this variation.
Multi Wrap Variation
If you are docking a boat with thinner or slippery lines on an oversized cleat, it tends to slide right off the cleat.
Instead of adding multiple locking hitches, simply add two or three wraps around the cleat base before tying the standard Cleat Hitch.
The extra wraps on the base with the small diameter ropes build friction, which handles the tension on the line better.
Alternative Knots When No Cleat is Available
When no cleats are available, try these alternatives:
But remember that, unlike the Cleat Hitch, these knots may jam and may be difficult to untie later.
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