Bowline Knot

Bowline Knot

Bowline Knot is a loop knot that neither slips nor jams. It is used to make a loop at one end of a line. The Bowline is referred as King of the knots because of its importance. It makes a secure loop in the end of a piece of rope. This knot is reliable, strong and stable. It can be used to fasten a mooring line to a ring or a post. It doesn’t slip or bind under any load. It can be tied with one hand, it is essential if you are using the other hand to hold on to the boat. As it untie so easily, you are not supposed to use it on mountain climbing.

It is easy to tie a Bowline Knot. Lay the rope across your left hand with the free end hanging down and then form a small loop in the line in your hand. Bring the free end up to and pass through the eye from the underside. Wrap the line around the standing line and back down through the loop. Tighten the knot by pulling on free end while holding standing line.

It is easy to untie even after severe tension is applied. The knot tightens when loaded at the standing part of the line. The bowling is commonly used in sailing small craft, for example to tie a jib sheet to a clew of a jib. It is well known as rescue knot for purposes such as rescuing people who might have fallen down a hole, or off a cliff onto a ledge. The Federal Aviation Administration recommends the bowline knot for tying down light aircraft. A bowline makes a poor safety knot for a swimmer. When a bowline is unloaded, it can readily work its way untied. The bowline is identical in structure to the sheet bend.