The vertical hitch workload is what percent of the basket hitch?

• A. 25%
• B. 60%
• C. 75%
• D. 50%

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how load is distributed across different rigging hitches. In a basket hitch, the load is supported by two rope legs, so the tension is shared between them. This effectively means the system can carry more load overall because the load is divided across two strands. A vertical hitch uses a single leg, so the load that a single line must carry in that setup is half of what two legs would share in a basket hitch. Therefore, the vertical hitch workload is 50% of the basket hitch workload.