July 2012

Mastering marlinespike

Bowline on a bight

An ancient bowline variation still used in water rescue work, the bowline on a bight easily forms large loops in any part of the rope without regard to the rope ends. This is especially important when dealing with an exceptionally long or heavy rope. Because the loops can slide, tension must be applied nearly equally to both resulting loops.

A. Grasp the legs of a bight and form an overhand loop with its tip to the right.

B. Take the bight tip and go through the overhand loop from behind.

C. Take the bight tip down over the entire knot and up into its final position.

D. Draw up the bowline by pulling the two legs of the bight tight on the working part.

E. The final knot

Original materials used with thanks to Irene Rodriguez and John Bennett

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