This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) | Barrel hitch Names| Barrel hitch, Barrel Sling Category| Hitch Related| Overhand knot, bowline ABoK| #459, #2176 and #2177 The "barrel hitch" and "barrel sling", named for their use in hoisting cargo aboard ships, are two simple yet effective ways to suspend an object. The barrel sling lays the barrel on its side, while the barrel hitch keeps it vertical. They work by forming a "sling" around the object, which supports it from either side and underneath. The barrel sling (not pictured) is made with a strop. The barrel is laid on its side, both sides of the strop are spread out and passed underneath, the ends of the strop are raised together, one end is tucked through the other and hooked to an eyehook. The tightened knot looks like a cow hitch. A cow hitch and bowline can achieve the same effect and are called a "cow hitch hoist". The barrel hitch for lifting bales of hay is called a "bale sling hitch". ## Contents * 1 Tying * 1.1 Warning * 2 See also * 3 References ## Tying[edit] How to tie a barrel hitch * The barrel hitch is made by tying an overhand knot, leaving plenty of free rope at the working end. Where the rope crosses itself in the middle of the knot (near the target), grab the strand of rope on top and bring it towards you, then lay it back down. The result should resemble stage 2: note where the target is. * Place your object on top of the diagonal strand of rope in the centre of the knot. * Carefully draw the rope up at the working and fixed ends, forming the "sling" around the object. Tie the working end off using a bowline, making sure the sling is tight around the object. ### Warning[edit] Though the barrel hitch will keep an object upright even if the rope is made to swing, it is important to note that strong jerking movements while raising or lowering can easily dislodge the sling. ## See also[edit] * List of knots ## References[edit] * Barrel Hitch Animated * v * t * e Knots * Bight * Loop * Turn * List of knots * List of knot terminology By type | Bends| * Adjustable * Albright special * Ashley's * Alpine butterfly * Basket weave * Beer * Blood * Carrick * Double fisherman's * Fisherman's * Flemish * Grief * Halyard * Harness * Heaving line * Hunter's * Nail * One-sided overhand * Racking * Sheet * Shoelace * Shroud * Simple Simon under * Single carrick * Surgeon's * Surgeon's loop * Triple fisherman's * True lover's * Water * Zeppelin | Binding| * Boa * Bottle sling * Constrictor * Corned beef * Granny * Ground-line hitch * Jamming * Miller's * Packer's * Reef * Strangle * Thief * Transom Climbing| * Autoblock * Bachmann * Beer * Bowline on a bight * Alpine butterfly * Directional figure eight * Double bowline * Farmer's loop * Figure-eight * Figure-eight loop * Figure-of-nine loop * Friction hitch * Klemheist * Munter hitch * Overhand loop * Prusik * Trident loop * Yosemite bowline Coils & shanks| * Chain sinnet * Sheepshank Decorative| * Carrick mat * Chinese button * Celtic button * Diamond * Fiador * Friendship * Ghiordes & Senneh * Matthew Walker * Turk's head * Wall and crown (triple crown knot) Fishing (angling)| * Angler's loop * Arbor * Bimini twist * Blood * Fisherman's * Improved clinch * Knotless * Nail * Palomar * Snell * Trilene * Triple fisherman's * Turle * Uni Hitches| * Adjustable grip * Anchor bend * Axle * Bachmann * Bale sling * Barrel * Becket * Blackwall * Blake's * Boom * Buntline * Cat's paw * Clove * Cow * Distel * Double overhand noose * Falconer's * Farrimond friction * Friction hitch * Garda * Ground-line * Half * Halter * Highpoint * Highwayman's * Hitching tie * Icicle * Improved clinch * Killick * Knute * Lobster buoy * Marlinespike * Munter * Ossel * Pile * Pipe * Sailor's * Snuggle * Swing * Taut-line * Timber * Trucker's * Tumble Loop| * Angler's * Artillery loop * Bale sling hitch * Bowline * Bumper * Carrick bend loop * Cossack * Cowboy bowline * Diamond * Double bowline * Dropper loop * Eskimo bowline * Fiador * Fireman's chair * Friendship knot * Halter hitch * Handcuff * Honda * Jury mast * Overhand * Portuguese bowline * Rigid double splayed loop in the bight * Slippery eight * Span * Spanish bowline * Tom fool's * Trident * Triple bowline * Water bowline * Yosemite bowline * Zeppelin Running (slip)| * Hangman's * Running bowline * Running highwayman's hitch * Tarbuck Splices & splicing| * Eye * Fid * Marlinspike * Rat-tail * T * Western Union Stopper| * Ashley's stopper * Button * Double overhand * Monkey's fist * Overhand * Stevedore Whipping| * Common * Overhand knot with draw-loop * Portuguese * Sailmaker's * West Country * Lists of knots * Related topics | Lists of knots| * Bends * Bindings * Decorative knots * Hitches (friction) * Mathematical | Related topics| * Chinese knotting * Density * History * International Guild of Knot Tyers * Macramé * Mizuhiki * Norigae * Ropework * Lashing * Splicing * Seizing * Sennit * Category * WikiProject * Commons *[v]: View this template *[t]: Discuss this template *[e]: Edit this template