Bowline or not ?

[lumphammer]

So you take your rope make a hole, the rabbit comes out of the hole, goes round the tree then back into the hole. Tighten it up and you have a bowline.

The rabbit has a choice , it can go clockwise or anticlockwise round the tree, are both options the same?

 

[mjcoon]

It depends on whether you are in the Northern or Southern hemisphere...

 

[mainsail1]

I don't use a rabbit. It's cruel.

 

[Seashoreman]

Bowline Knot
Maybe this will help?

 

[Easticks28]

Being left handed , my rabbit always goes anti clockwise. Never encountered any problems.

 

[newtothis]

If you're a sailor, you do it so the rabbit ends up inside the loop of the bowline. If it is on the outside, you're a Boy Scout.

 

[john_morris_uk]

From our very own:

 

[john_morris_uk]

Fastest Ways to Tie a Bowline Knot—Rapid Bowline (Lightning Method)—Bowline Variations

I use a variant of the 'Overhand Knot Method'.

 

[RobWard]

So you take your rope make a hole, the rabbit comes out of the hole, goes round the tree then back into the hole. Tighten it up and you have a bowline.

The rabbit has a choice , it can go clockwise or anticlockwise round the tree, are both options the same?

Rabbit? Choice? Political correctness gone mad.

In the RYA book of knots, the rabbit goes anticlockwise, i.e. the working end ends up inside the loop. I think I read somewhere that this is 'correct' but I couldn't possibly find a source for that - I may have made it up.

 

[tudorsailor]

Doesn't it depend how you make the loop in the standing end? I am right handed. If the standing end is on the left side and the working end is in my right hand, the loop will be sticking out to the right and the rabbit will go anti-clockwise.
But sometimes the line goes through the mooring ring such that the working end is in my left hand and the loop sticks out to the left. In that case the rabbit would go clockwise.
TS

 

[Norman_E]

From our very own:

The professional skipper of a big motorboat taught me how to do that quite a few years ago, but I had forgotten it. The knot it makes is slightly different from a normal bowline but still works OK.

 

[newtothis]

The professional skipper of a big motorboat taught me how to do that quite a few years ago, but I had forgotten it. The knot it makes is slightly different from a normal bowline but still works OK.

It is a really quick knot if you want to throw a loop, but that's about all it's good for. I've yet to see anyone bend on a jib sheet with a flying bowline.

 

[De.windhoos]

If you're a sailor, you do it so the rabbit ends up inside the loop of the bowline. If it is on the outside, you're a Boy Scout.

that's actually not the case in the Netherlands. Here we're taught that the bitter end is outside.
There is no difference in holding power. However, if it's outside it's easier to throw the bowline over a bolder or piling.

 

[TernVI]

that's actually not the case in the Netherlands. Here we're taught that the bitter end is outside.
There is no difference in holding power. However, if it's outside it's easier to throw the bowline over a bolder or piling.

Some people call that a 'Dutch Bowline'.

Many years ago, there was an argument about which was better. One of the people involved had access to a load testing equipment. As I understand, it standard double braid rope, your way was a little stronger when tested to destruction. With three strand rope it's more a case of a RH or LH version of either knot, I forget which was better, either for failing or being easy to undo afterwards...
These days there are more types of rope to choose from, the knots we used to use are not always so good.

 

[lustyd]

The real question is, is it still a bowline if it’s a sheet bend? ?

 

[De.windhoos]

The real question is, is it still a bowline if it’s a sheet bend? ?

Don't know; would have to tie on 3 sheets to the wind to figure that one out ?

 

[Sandy]

If you're a sailor, you do it so the rabbit ends up inside the loop of the bowline. If it is on the outside, you're a Boy Scout.

I was a Sea Scout!

 

[Davy_S]

I tie a bowline completely different than the norm, i originally learned by passing the rope around my waist, holding on with the left hand, then tying the bowline with one hand, since then, i tie it in front of me with one hand, just the same as reaching up and tying the jib sheets on, i used to know someone from a yacht club who would tie it in exactly the same way, even using 2 inch thick 3 strand to tie a tow line to a tractor, each to their own.

 

[johnalison]

I thought that it was absolutely forbidden to mention small furry animals with long ears on a boat.

 

[Sandy]

I thought that it was absolutely forbidden to mention small furry animals with long ears on a boat.

Only on Portland.