How to Hook a Rope to a Ski Tow Bar

Hooking a water ski towline to a boat's ski pylon should be an easy task, but only if that line has already been tied onto the hook. Many people find tying advanced knots daunting, but one of the best knots for putting a rope onto a swivel hook is the surgeon's loop, which is a simple knot to tie. After just a few tries, even a complete novice can have a loop of the right size and have it snugly hooked into place.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Knife

Step 1

Pull one end of the towrope back to form an open loop.

Step 2

Tie a standard overhand knot in your loop by bringing the top of the loop around itself and then pulling it through the opening. Do not pull this knot tight yet, however, as you need it to be loose for later steps. You should now have a loose knot made of two cords, with an open loop on one end and the rest of the towline extending out the other end.

Step 3

Thread the end of the loop back through the loose space in the knot. Then pull it through and tighten the knot.

Step 4

Cut off any excess rope (not the towline) from the knot. The knot is now a complete surgeon's loop and ready for the swivel hook.

Step 5

Pull the surgeon's loop through the eye at the bottom of the swivel hook. Once it is through, pull the loop up and over the hook itself. Then pull on the towline to tighten the surgeon's loop into place around the hook and its eye, locking it into place.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

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