You should finish securing the line by forming several figure eight knots and securing them with a half hitch over each horn.

You should finish securing the line by forming several figure eight knots and securing them with a half hitch over each horn.

• A. Figure eight
• B. Becket bend
• C. Clove hitch
• D. Bowline

Answer: (A)

When securing a line to a cleat, you want a finish that grips well and won’t slip as the boat moves. Forming several figure-eight knots around each horn provides solid wraps that resist sliding, and tying a half hitch over each horn locks those wraps in place. The figure-eight acts as a reliable stopper and distributes the load around the horn, while the half hitch cinches the knot so it can’t work loose under tension. Adding multiple figure-eights adds redundancy and helps spread the stress along the cleat, keeping the line tight. The other knots aren’t suited here: the becket bend is for joining two ropes, the clove hitch can slip under load, and the bowline creates a fixed loop not designed for wrapping around cleat horns with hitches.

When securing a line to a cleat, you want a finish that grips well and won’t slip as the boat moves. Forming several figure-eight knots around each horn provides solid wraps that resist sliding, and tying a half hitch over each horn locks those wraps in place. The figure-eight acts as a reliable stopper and distributes the load around the horn, while the half hitch cinches the knot so it can’t work loose under tension. Adding multiple figure-eights adds redundancy and helps spread the stress along the cleat, keeping the line tight. The other knots aren’t suited here: the becket bend is for joining two ropes, the clove hitch can slip under load, and the bowline creates a fixed loop not designed for wrapping around cleat horns with hitches.