How to Tie Bowline Knots

A bowline knot is used to move heavy bundles or loads.

A bowline knot is a simple knot to both tie and un-tie. This type of knot is are considered to be reliable for lifting heavy loads. The bowline knot creates a loop at the bottom of the knot. The loop is then wrapped around the load you wish to move. The knot can easily be moved closer to the load to hold the loop in place. Although it does have a tendency to come un-tied easily when not lifting anything at all.

Things You'll Need

• Rope

Instructions

1. Place the rope on a flat surface in front of you. Position it so the rope is running perpendicular to your body. The part of the rope that is the furthest from you is called the tree of the knot.

2. Grab the end of the rope, and make a loop. The loop should begin to form on the left side of the tree, then turn and come back around to the right. The end of the loop should over lap the tree. Leave the rope loose. This first loop is called the rabbit's hole.

3. Create a second loop larger than the first. The end of the rope should be inserted through the center of the rabbit's hole. Do not pull tight. Leave everything loose. Lay the end of the rope down beside the tree of the rope.

4. Wrap the end of the rope behind the tree, and back down the center of the rabbit's hole.

5. Slide the second loop over the load you wish to move. Center the loop on the load.

6. Pull the end of the rope and the tree away from each other. This will pull the knot closer to the load, and tighten the knot.

References

• Apparent Wind: Bowline Knot
• Animated Knots: Alphabetical Knots List