The Bowline is most commonly used for forming a fixed loop, large or small at the end of a line. Virtually all end-to-end joining knots (i.e., bends) have a corresponding loop knot. In this variation the knot's working end is taken round the loop in the direction of the original round turn, then threaded back up through the original round turn before the knot is drawn tight. This can be taught to children with the rhyme: "Up through the rabbit hole, round the big tree; down through the rabbit hole and off goes he." Bring the free end up to and pass through the eye from the under side (the rabbit comes out of the hole). There is a potential with beginners to tie what is known as an Eskimo bowline. The final loop of a sideways bowline will slip[citation needed]. Tried and tested over centuries, this knot is reliable, strong and stable. The title of this knot can be misleading, as it does not result in a Bowline with two loops, such as a Spanish Bowline or French Bowline. The bowline (/ˈboʊlɪn/ or /ˈboʊlaɪn/)[1] is an ancient and simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope. Knot illustrations contained in this web site are not intended for rock climbing instruction. Form a small loop in the line in your hand. Smith considered the knot to be strong and secure, saying, "The Boling knot is also so firmly made and fastened by the bridles into the cringles of the sails, they will break, or the sail split before it will slip. [6], The bowline knot is thought to have been first mentioned in John Smith's 1691 work A Sea Grammar under the name Boling knot. The cowboy bowline (also called Dutch bowline), French bowline, and Portuguese bowline are variations of the bowline, each of which makes one loop. Lay the rope across your left hand with the free end hanging down. While widely considered a reliable knot, when tied in certain materials or loading conditions it may not hold. Scroll to see Animated Double Bowline Knot below the illustration and tying instructions. It is tied with the rope's working end also known as the "tail" or "end". ", "The Seaman's Grammar and Dictionary (reprinting)", "Qualified Firefighter Assessment – Part 2 Training Objectives", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yL4izuwaxg, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bowline&oldid=968574707, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Many factors affect knots including: the appropriateness of knots and rope materials used in particular applications, the age, size, and condition of ropes; and the accuracy with which these descriptions have been followed. Similar to the double bowline, the water bowline is made by forming a clove hitch before the working end is threaded through. The Yosemite bowline is often used in climbing. Other two-loop bowline knots include the Spanish bowline and the bowline on the bight; these can be tied in the middle of a rope without access to the ends. Form a small loop in the line in your hand. It is said to be stronger and also more resistant to jamming than the other variations, especially when wet. Lightning method, tied on a ring. This page was last edited on 20 July 2020, at 06:24. The bowline is sometimes referred to as King of the knots because of its importance. Bring the free end up to and pass through the … Scroll to see Animated Bowline Knot below the illustration and tying instructions. [4] To address these shortcomings, a number of more secure variations of the bowline have been developed for use in safety-critical applications. Many factors affect knots including: the appropriateness of knots and rope materials used in particular applications, the age, size, and condition of ropes; and the accuracy with which these descriptions have been followed. A rope with a bowline retains approximately 2/3 of its strength, with variances depending upon the nature of the rope, as in practice the exact strength depends on a variety of factors. A triple bowline is used to make three loops. Many knots are not suitable for the risks involved in climbing. Wrap the line around the standing line and back down through the loop (around the tree and back down the hole). However, in situations that require additional security, several variants have been developed: The round turn bowline is made by the addition of an extra turn in the formation of the "rabbit hole" before the working end is threaded through. [1] X Research source The bowline, pronounced 'Bowlin' not 'bow-line', is secure, easy to make and … No responsibility is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this content. Clifford Ashley says of this knot, "It holds the Bowline together in such a way as to lessen the danger of it capsizing, which is liable to occur when a single Bowline is carelessly drawn up". Disclaimer: Any activity involving rope can be dangerous and may even be life threatening! A slipped version of the Cossack knot is called Kalmyk loop. The bowline is used to make a loop at one end of a line. Disclaimer: Any activity involving rope can be dangerous and may even be life threatening! [12][13], Simple knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope, For the UK submarine emergency response test program, see, "How safe is the bowline knot in different situations?