Bowline

Canonical Name

\nBowline.

Variant name(s)

\nDeath knot.
\nRescue knot.

Category

\nLoop on the end.

Origin

\nThis is an ancient knot and is considered the 'King of Knots'.

Related knot(s)

\ndouble bowline, water bowline, spanish bowline, triple bowline, portuguese bowline, bowline on a bight, irish bowline.

Releasing

\nNon-jamming.

Efficiency

\n60-75%

Caveats

\nNone.

Uses

\n* Commonly used in sailing small craft to secure the top of the main sheet to the main line.\n* The Federal Aviation Administration recommends the bowline knot for tying down light aircraft.\n* Commonly refered to as the rescue knot because it is used to lift people out of dangerous situations.

Comments

\nAfter learning the overhand knot and the figure-of-eight knot, the Bowline is the next most useful and easy to learn knot. Many people are taught the slow and all thumbs 'Bunny' method. In fact it can be very fast to tie even under the most difficult of circumstances. There are many 'loop on the end' knots. Like the others the bowline can be made and then secured over an object like a post. But many other loop knots are unlike the Bowline. The working end can first be passed through a ring object and then tied. This unique feature of the Bowline makes it a convenient loop knot and a knot every one should master. One bowline tied to another is one way of joining two ropes.

Structure

Tying

\n\n

This knot can be tied in a number of ways, including in the air, around an object, and around oneself. The 'Bunny' method: form the hole, the bunny comes up through the hole, around the tree, and back down through the hole. This is a difficult and inferior way to tie. Single hand method: wait for the pictures Lightning (aka Jedi) method: Tie a slip knot with the main line as the adjustable end, pass the working end through the loop and pull the slip knot tight until it flips over. The resulting knot is a bowline.

External link

• FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 20-35C, "Tiedown Sense." July 12, 1983.

Category:Knots