Hitches
Marlinspike Hitch
DIFFICULTY ●●○○○
A quick temporary hitch that traps a rod — a spike, screwdriver or stick — in a loop of the rope, giving you a comfortable T-handle to pull with.
See it tied step-by-step ↗Why it earns its place
Turns thin cord from a finger-cutter into something you can genuinely haul on. Riggers use it constantly for tightening whippings and lashings; it vanishes when the rod slides out.
Where it fails
Purely temporary and only secure while the pull traps the rod. Orient it correctly — loaded backward, the loop simply slides off the spike.
Quick facts
| Type | Tool-grip hitch |
| Under load | Good while pulling |
| Untying | Remove rod, gone |
| Best for | Pulling hard on thin cord |