Hi, I am very happy with my rayway tarp and net tent. I can do all the knots and they work great. But the tarp book doesn't explain how to attach the beak to a tree or stick. The beak line is very fine and flat. If you tie an ordinary knot, it's very hard to undo. But what knot would work better? Today I set it up using the taut line hitch. That worked ok, but it was hard to undo. I can't figure out how to make a quick release clove hitch onto a pole where you can't slip the knot over the end of the pole. Any suggestions?

>I can't figure out how to make a quick release clove hitch onto a pole where you can't slip the knot over the end of the pole.


Dropping two loops over the end of the pole is just a shortcut for wrapping the line around the pole twice. This animation shows how to wrap the line for a normal Clove Hitch.

http://www.cptdave.com/clove-hitch.html


I usually tie a Slipped Half-Hitch and then make a second Slipped Half-Hitch from the loop. It's quick and easy, but better on branches than big trees.

http://www.primitiveways.com/knots.html

Another quick and easy-to-untie knot is the Halter Hitch. It works well on small-medium branches. The downside of this knot is that it isn't as easy to tension as the Slipped Half-Hitch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halter_hitch

For everything from branches to trees and also for easy retensioning, the Trucker's Hitch works well and comes apart easily, especially if you use Slipped Half-Hitches to finish. I much prefer this for ridgelines because I can retension the line in just a few seconds without untying the whole knot.

http://www.animatedknots.com/truckers/index.php

These three knots release completely just by pulling on the free end. I hope this helps.

Edited by Otter on 11/18/2006 14:47:32 MST.

Hi, thanks. I love the animated knots on the internet! So much better than the old boy scout book diagrams.
I found a diagram in the Tarp Book that enabled me to figure out how to tie a quick release clove hitch around a stick. I think this will work best for the tarp beak.