Page 85 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Figure 3-19. An Angler’s Loop allows for length
adjustment. Begin by making a counterclockwise
A loop with the end behind the standing part. Make
two complete turns with the end around the loop, the
second turn to the right of the first. Pass the first turn
over the second and through the loop to finish. A hook
or snapshackle can be threaded on and kept at point
“X” while tying to have it end up on the loop.

SEVEN BOWLINES
X
Paul Newman was up there on the silver screen,
swaggering his way through a role as a fiercely inde-
pendent logger. He swaggered as he climbed a tree,
he swaggered as he cut one down, and he swaggered
as he put a Bowline into a big hawser.
“Wait a minute! Did you see that?” I said to my
companion.
“See what?” she said.
“That Bowline. He tied it without letting go of
the end! And fast! How did he do it?”
B “Calm down, Brion,” she said.
“Sshhh!” said people around us. But I was
already digging in my pocket for a length of string.
The Bowline is the King of Knots because it is strong,
secure, and versatile, as kings should be. And sim-
ple, as kings generally are. It was rare good fortune
to come across a new way to tie it, and I wanted to
try to duplicate the movements while they were still
fresh in my mind.
“You’re a log,” I said to my friend.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Quiet, you two!”
C “The hawser was around a log,” I whispered.
“Hold up your arm.”

Tidal and Storm Mooring

In strong tidal areas or in storms, set Bowlines
around pilings for your mooring lines. The loops
can ride up and down, needing no adjustment. If
there is an eyesplice in the end of the mooring line,
you can make a Mobius Bowline (see page 365)
which cannot come untied by accident.

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