Mooring bitt orientation

[Figment]

In Joe's latest video I noticed that Sjogin's bitt is oriented fore-and-aft. This makes all the sense in the world, of course, in terms of minimizing sheet snags, etc, yet I can't recall ever having seen such a bitt that wasn't oriented athwartship.

Have I just had my head up? Is this a common thing?
Is there a drawback to this fore-and-aft thing?

[ssor]

My guess is it depends on the primary direction of pull. Fore and aft would work better if the pull was port and starboard. Athartships would serve best if towing or being towed.

[Figment]

I'm talking about a square bitt, square base, the only thing that changes is the orientation of the through-pin or the "horns".

[Lew Barrett]

I've seen bitts used once in awhile as stern cleats. In that event, the orientation is always fore and aft. Can't say I've seen many used at the bow in like manner.

[Ian McColgin]

Either way but we may be talking of two things - a pair of bitts either fore-and-aft or athwartships, as is common on either side of a bowsprit's butt; or a single bitt with it's rod either fore-and-aft or athwartships.

For single bitts aft, I personally like the rod athwartships as it's more likely that one will be sitting on the deck just foreward and leaning against the bitt. For single bitts foreward, I like the rod fore-and-aft to reduce tripping and fouling.

Double bitts on the foredeck are almost always athwartships on either side of the bowsprit. Whether fore-and-aft or athwartships, good linehandeling has it that after entering the pair at the center as fairly as possible, the first turn is clockwise unless you're using left laid rope. If you led from the starboard hawse to athwartships bitts, go roud behind the port bitt and then figure eight. From the starboard hawse to fore-and-aft bitts, enter at the center and circle the foreward bitt before figure eighting.

It's not odd, if two rodes are out, to use the bitts seperatly making fast with a tuggy's hitch if no rods are in the bitts.

Bringing me to the last point: Bitts and sampson posts don't need those silly rods that just poke folk and foul lines. The tuggy's hitch - also works nicely to finish off a line around a winch or dock piling - simply treats the top of the winch as one horn of a cleat and the standing part of the line as the other. Cast a bight under the standing part and over the bitt or post or winch. Arrange it to fall as a figure eight. Do this thrice and you are all secure. No locking hitch needed.

G'luck

[Russ Manheimer]

Figment,

As far as I can tell the fore 'n aft orentation was original to Sjogin so I've no idea as to the buliders reason. It's far enough forward that there's no problem with any jib sheet snags. When using the bit a couple of round turns and a couple of figure eights followed by a hitch is sufficient. Standing or kneeling aft of the bit when tying up it seems to be marginally easier to use with the pin as it is. (More likely 20 years of use has me habituated.)

I second Ian's mention of the Tugboat hitch. Easy to tie especially after a couple of round turns. I also use it to tie small stuff to rings and handrails and such. Very usefull.

Russ

[clancy]

I just happened to capture these two images this past weekend.

I've seen bitts used once in awhile as stern cleats. In that event, the orientation is always fore and aft.

This old cruiser I shot at Beaton's has stern cleats mounted athwartships.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d31/inuitsea/P1120578.jpg


Bitts and sampson posts don't need those silly rods that just poke folk and foul lines.


This is a fishing boat I found at Point Pleasant.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d31/inuitsea/P1120636.jpg