Bowline on bight

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Bowline on a Bight

The Bowline on a bight is a knot which makes a pair of fixed-size loops in the middle of a rope. Its advantages are that its loops do not slip and it is reasonably easy to untie after being exposed to a strain.

Applications

This knot can be used to provide a toe hold in the middle of a rope; to make an emergency bosun's chair; and to create an upper rope "block" to make a crude purchase by threading the rope round an anchor point and then back up through the loop. It is sometimes used in sport climbing to tie into two anchor bolts independently.

Bowline on a Bight First Step

Bowline on a Bight Second Step

Technique

The bight of rope is initially used to make a bowline in the usual way (picture on left). However, the bowline is NOT completed by going on round the standing end(s) and tucking the bight back down beside itself. Instead, the bight is opened up to allow the whole knot to pass through it (see picture on right). When tightened, the bight now embraces the pair of standing ends (see top picture)

External links

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