finishing off biminis

[Sam Beeby]

I've always just finished with 4 overwraps of both legs and drawn them up with a pull thru. I usually then do two alternating half hitches of the tag around the outside and smooth the tag down with superglue. On ausfish.com.au/knots the bimini is finished with a half hitch around one leg and then a 3-4 turn uni around both legs. Is using pull thru's just for mono or is it ok for heavy braid too? What do you guys do?

[Chris Young]

Hi Sam

I was discusing this issue with Brandon a week ago, I personally have no faith in the half hitch over each leg style of finishing a bimini, I have tried them & had them fail, for me the ONLY way to finish a bimini properly with braid is with at least a 6 turn pull through & a small (read very small) dap of loctite 406 or similar on the pull through section,. I think I also have to add that I pull the tag on the pull through up so tight that it changes it's colour, not unlike the original zip finish on mono.

Cheers Chris

[Brandon Khoo]

About a year ago, I started using the rizutto finish. That lasted one trip. While it has a very nice finish, it has a tendency to come loose after prolonged use. Mind you, I'll even admit that I loved the finish - until I had one unravel!

Obviously, loctite or superglue will ensure it does not come loose but that is more trouble than it is worth for me.I can't tie a bimimi and then glue it on a rocking boat otherwise I will end up stuck to the boat! Superglue is too dangerous in this regard.

For my bimimi, it simply some 15 to 20 alternating half hitches pulled very tight. I will then leave a small tag of a fe millimetre which I wil shred. I find this then resists the unravelling of the half hitches.