Page 86 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice
P. 86

So in the crowded theater, with the aid of my  the-tree method of tying a Bowline (mercifully
             bewildered friend, I practiced the method. Quietly.  not shown here) that many of us learned. Clumsy
             In years to come, in more appropriate circumstances,  and slow. How can we call the Bowline the King of
             it would prove itself as the best technique for putting  Knots and then make it in a manner that can only
             a Bowline into heavy or stiff line. And I could always  be described as low-class? And it’s not as if there’s
             say, “Here’s one Paul Newman showed me.”    only one alternative to the rabbit version.

             Newman Bowline                              Spilled-Hitch Bowline
             It’s an ingenious knot, even an elegant one (see  When the line is neither bulky nor stiff, its flexibility
             Figure 3-20). Look how that sweeping judo move  will make the Newman Bowline difficult to execute.
             throws a turn into the line. True, at one point you  No matter, the Bowline earned its royal sobriquet
             do let go, but with a little practice, it doesn’t look as  not only for its strength, security, and ease of unty-
             though you do.                              ing—other knots possess those virtues—but also for
                Compare that one continuous motion with the  its versatility. So we have a second alternative (Fig-
             rabbit-comes-out-of-the-hole-and-runs-around-  ure 3-21), which starts out as an innocent-looking
                                                         Half Hitch made with the end around the stand-
             Figure 3-20.  Newman Bowline. Pass the end of the   ing part. A little push and pull spills the hitch into
             line around a post and hold the standing part in   the standing part, the end is tucked, and suddenly
             one hand, the end in the other. Reach across the   you’re done. Basically, it is a less flashy version of
             standing part with your end hand (with the end   the Newman method and, like it, is easier in every
             pointing toward the post), and then pivot your   instance than the usual practice of forming a bight
             hand under the standing part and back toward   with your hand and threading your way through it.
             you. There should now be a loop around your wrist.
             Pass the end under the standing part and let go of   Fingertip Bowline
             the end momentarily to reach over and grab it from   Still another variation is used to make a Bowline
             the other side. Finally, pull it and your hand out of   freehand (Figure 3-22); there’s no piling, cleat, or
             the loop to form the knot.                  such to brace against, such as the previous knots






























                                                                                                       65
   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91