Knot Question

[ApS]

The bowline is a boater's strongest and most useful knot.

Originally Posted by kawishiwi

I agree. I can tie it one handed or with my eyes closed. Probably could do it in my sleep.

Recently, while "on vacation" from the Lake, I used a bowline to remove a dead, but very tough and slippery, palm frond. (Twice)

In Photo 1, you can see that the line (white) parted with the first try—but bowline 1 stayed secure.

The black line has bowline 2 tied, then similarly passed-through to tighten the line's grip on the palm frond. Two half-hitches follow, to make a self-tightening timber hitch. Then secured the line to car's trailer hitch to drive a short distance.

Yes, it's just a dead leaf, but the car will jump when the frond breaks free.

Even if the bowline tightens to the point it can't be released by hand, a modest hit with a hammer will do the job. There's no releasing a jammed clove hitch.

Photo 2 shows the bowline with multiple pass-throughs can be used as a hitch on a slippery aluminum spar. One chief advantage is that the bowline can be slipped back and forth along the spar; whereas, a timber hitch requires many more "fiddly" adjustments.

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