Page 69 - Outward Bound Ropes, Knots, and Hitches

Ropes, Knots, and Hitches

Bowline on a Bight

A fIxed dOuBLe LOOp tHAt CAn Be
tIed In tHe MIddLe Of A LIne
Bowline on a bight, bowline in the bight, bowline upon
the bight—they are all names for the same knot. This knot
can be tied near a working end of a rope but more often
appears away from an end. Historically, this knot served
as an improvised seat, the seated person shoving one leg
through one loop, the other leg through the other loop.
The person in the seat held on to the line and was then
lowered or raised, as over the side of a ship. When a double
loop is tied in the middle of a rope, a weight (such as a
person) can be lowered or raised from two points, allowing

Bowline on a XX Bight: Step 1 Bowline on a Bight: Step 2
XX

XXXWith the line doubled, form a XXX
Take the double end up through
loop in the doubled line as if a the loop, again as if a basic
basic bowline (see page 52) was bowline was being tied.
being tied.

54

OB_RopesKnots_RevFinal_CS4.indd 54 2/9/12 3:11 PM