Table of contents |
2 Variant name(s) 3 Category 4 Origin 5 Related knot(s) 6 Releasing 7 Efficiency 8 Caveats 9 Uses 10 Comments 11 Structure 12 Tying |
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.
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.Canonical Name
Bowline.Variant name(s)
None.Category
Loop on the end.Origin
This is an ancient knot and is considered the 'King of Knots'.Related knot(s)
double bowline, spanish bowline, triple bowline, portuguese bowline, bowline on a bight, irish bowline.Releasing
Non-jamming.Efficiency
60-75%Caveats
None.Uses
Commonly used in sailing small craft to secure the top of the main sheet to the main line.Comments
After 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.Structure
Tying
This knot can be tied in a number of ways, including in the air, around an object, and around oneself.