Slip knot Bowline - so much cooler than rabbit out the hole and around the tree

tudorsailor

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I finally found a description if this knot that make sense. I cannot wait to get back on board to use it for real.

The method is given at http://www.asiteaboutnothing.net/cr_bowline-methods.html For me the picture with "pinch and pull" suddenly made it easy to do

Slip%20know%20bowline.jpg


TudorSailor
 
This is how I tie a bowline

( Bit kack handed cos I had to do it left handed, cos I need my right for the camera, and flip the images ) Sorry about the lens cap


lay the end across the standing part with two fingers on it

DSCF1399.jpg



A quick flick of the wrist creates the tree, the rabbit hole and the bunny comnig up the hole all in in one go

DSCF1400.jpg



pass the end round behind the standing part ( bunny round behind the tree)

DSCF1401.jpg



Pass the end back through the loop ( bunny back down the hole)

DSCF1402.jpg



There it is just needs tightening

DSCF1403.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is how I tie a bowline

( Bit kack handed cos I had to do it left handed, cos I need my right for the camera, and flip the images ) Sorry about the lens cap

lay the end across the standing part with two fingers on it

A quick flick of the wrist creates the tree, the rabbit hole and the bunny comnig up the hole all in in one go

pass the end round behind the standing part ( bunny round behind the tree)

Pass the end back through the loop ( bunny back down the hole)

There it is just needs tightening

+1 One handed too.
 
I had a crewman who routinely did the opposite: after much coaching tied the bowline but then gave the end a good pull capsizing it so it slipped out. Not good on a mooring warp.
 
Another +1 - it's pretty much what I call the twist-the-wrist method. Very very fast two-handed, and you can do it one handed a bit slower.
 
Err, why use a bowline for mooring up?

Are there not (no pun intended) more appropriate knots to use?

A knot best left to the climbers, I suggest :-)

Easy to tie and versatile

the warp can be threaded through a hoop or the base of a cleat.

can be tied round the base of a cleat under the birds nest of warps that other people have created.

can be a premade loop to drop over a cleat or bollard

very secure.

usually easy to undo.


Also two bowlines can be a good way of joining two ropes
 
IMHO it is important for all crew to know how to tie a bowline single handed in the case of a MOB the crew can throw a line to the MOB and he/she and hold on to the line with one hand and tie a bowline around themselves with the other.
 
Err, why use a bowline for mooring up?

Are there not (no pun intended) more appropriate knots to use?

Because the vast majority of recreational boaters (yes, yes, yes,.. present company excepted, OF COURSE :) ) can only tie a reef knot*, a bowline and maybe a clove hitch at most and don't sail often enough or use other knots often enough to remember them, despite long winters spent practising.


* or a granny knot by mistake!
 
This is how I tie a bowline

( Bit kack handed cos I had to do it left handed, cos I need my right for the camera, and flip the images ) Sorry about the lens cap


lay the end across the standing part with two fingers on it

DSCF1399.jpg



A quick flick of the wrist creates the tree, the rabbit hole and the bunny comnig up the hole all in in one go

DSCF1400.jpg



pass the end round behind the standing part ( bunny round behind the tree)

DSCF1401.jpg



Pass the end back through the loop ( bunny back down the hole)

DSCF1402.jpg



There it is just needs tightening

DSCF1403.jpg
I tend to use and teach the inverted slipknot version. Vic, would love to master your method as well, but I can't seem to imitate the flick of the wrist action that results in pic2 result. Is there a trick to it?
 
I tend to use and teach the inverted slipknot version. Vic, would love to master your method as well, but I can't seem to imitate the flick of the wrist action that results in pic2 result. Is there a trick to it?

No trick . Role of thumb perhaps not clear, grip both the rope tail and the standing part between thmub and first two fingers, turn hand over , palm towards you


DSCF1412.jpg


DSCF1413.jpg


DSCF1414.jpg
 
:)

Thank you for all the explanations of how to tie a bowline the beast way, it would seem that there a few different ways to achieve similar, (wont say the same) knot. Its all most interesting, must get an odd length and sit somewhere quiet and practice tying the knot.

But back to my query earlier, why use a bowline, as it just might seem that there is more chance of '''getting it wrong' than almost any other knot or hitch. Getting it wrong afloat just might have dire consequences on many an occasion

From distant memories, the bowline always caused the most consternation in boat clubs and even before that boy scouts, when practice time involved tying knots.

Perhaps its one of those knots that once mastered tis 'easy peasy' until you are asked to demonstrate it to someone, then its all fingers and dropped loops, or something :(
 
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