| Jury mast knot | |
|---|---|
 Three variations of the Jury mast knot | |
| Names | Jury mast knot, Masthead knot, Pitcher Knot, Jury masthead |
| Category | Loop |
| Related | Tom fool's knot, Handcuff knot, Bottle sling |
| Typical use | Jury rigging a mast, carrying pitchers |
| ABoK | #1167, #1168, #1169, #2563 |
The jury mast knot (or masthead knot) is traditionally presented as to be used for jury rigging a temporary mast on a sailboat or ship after the original one has been lost; some authors claim a use for derrick poles --but there is no good evidence for actual use. The knot is placed at the top of a new mast with the mast projecting through the center of the knot. The loops of the knot are then used as anchor points for makeshift stays and shrouds. Usually small blocks of wood are affixed to, or a groove cut in, the new mast to prevent the knot from sliding downwards.[1]
Due to a lack of hard historical evidence there is uncertainty whether this supposed rigging knot was ever commonly used for rigging jury masts.[2]