It took a stuck jib on a 50 ton Grove to teach me my tagline knots were all wrong

For about 8 years I always tied my taglines the same way. Bowline on the load, clove hitch on the hook. Never had an issue. Then last month I was lifting a 12,000 pound HVAC unit on a job in Phoenix and the tagline got taught under the load. Couldn't budge it. My spotter yelled at me to fix my knot. I had to climb up and cut the line. Went back to the shop and asked an old timer. He showed me a half hitch with a backup. Simple change, but now I can release under tension. Anyone else ever get humbled by a simple knot?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliviabarnes25d ago

Did you try just yelling at it first?

christopher90325d agoMost Upvoted

Yelled at my router so hard the neighbor's dog started barking. Thing just blinked at me like it knew I was bluffing. Tried the old "unplug it and count to ten" trick instead, worked way better than my screaming ever did. Pretty sure my router has seen more anger than my ex-wife at this point.