Sailing Club
Basic Knots — The Bowline
Forming the bowline as a free loop
Use: One of your important knots, the bowline, is used whenever a loop is needed that won't slip. It is used for mooring lines, seats, towlines, joining two ropes together, etc. It will always come out easily when strain is taken off line.
Step 1: Make small loop near end, with shorter part crossing on top.
Step 2: Put end through loop, from underneath.
Step 3: Swing end around main part of line.
Step 4: Put end back through loop in same way it came out.
Forming the bowline around post or spar
Step 1: Throw line around post or spar, and form overhand knot.
Step 2: Snap the short end so it becomes a straight line. This should automatically make a loop in the other.
Step 3: Take short end out of this loop, around the main part, and back through the loop.
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