Bowline Knot

The Bowline Knot forms a fixed loop at the end of the rope. It doesn’t slip, and it does not jam under tension.

Many people call it the “King of knots.” And honestly, it lives up to that name.

It’s easy to tie, holds well under load, and comes apart easily when you want it to.

It’s pronounced as ‘Bowlin’ or ‘Boh-lin’—not ‘Bow-line.’

Let’s learn this knot in detail.

How to Tie a Bowline Knot

1. Pass the working end through the loop.
2. Pass it behind the standing part and through the loop.
3. Hold the loop and the working end with one hand and the standing end with the other and pull both ends.
4.  Tighten the knot.

You have tied this knot correctly if you have the free end in the middle of the loop.

There’s another variation where the tail ends outside the loop. That’s called the Cowboy Bowline (more on this later).

Tail Length Tip: For safety, the length of the tag end should be about 12 times the circumference. If you use a ½” diameter rope, leave at least 18” long tail.

Easy Way to Remember the Bowline Knot

If you want Bowline to be a permanent skill, just remember this classic mnemonic:

“The rabbit comes up out of the hole, goes around the tree, and goes back down into the hole.”

Think of the loop as a “rabbit hole.” The standing part coming off the loop is the “tree.” And your working end? That’s the “rabbit.”

Here are a few tips that make this knot easier to tie.

• Don’t make the rabbit hole large
• The tree should lie behind the loop
• When the rabbit goes back down the hole, it goes down the same side
• Pull both the rabbit and the tree to tighten the knot.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy to tie and untie
• Does not jam
• Does not slip or bind
• Can be tied with a single hand

Cons

• Can’t be tied and untied when there’s a load on the standing line
• Can get loose when not loaded
• Can capsize when pulled sideways

Applications and Uses

• General application: Make a secure loop around an object.
• Boating and Sailing: Tie a mooring line around a tree, post, or anchor. Tie a jib sheet to the clew of a jib or fasten a halyard to the head of a sail.
• Search and rescue: Throw a large loop bowline to the person in an emergency to pull them to safety.
• Bend Knot: Joining two ropes.
• Camping and outdoor activities: Secure tarps, set up shelters, hammocks, or hang camping gear.

The Bowline Isn’t Perfect

The Bowline knot is solid. But it’s not flawless. Here are three inherent weak spots:

• It tends to come loose under load (cyclic loading)
• Slip when pulled sideways
• Bight capsizes in certain situations

But you can fix these with a few tweaks. Let’s talk about the popular backup options.

Stronger Bowline variations

Double Bowline

The Double Bowline (ABoK #1013) is similar to the standard Bowline, but you loop the end of a line around the bight twice for extra security.

Another knot, the Triple Bowline, also exists. It forms three loops that can be tied to different anchor points.

Step-by-Step Instructions (click to expand)

1. Make two loops in the rope.
2. Place one loop over the other.
3. Pass the tag end through the loops.
4. Pass it behind the standing part.
5. Feed it through the loops again.
6. Tighten the knot.

Water Bowline

The Water Bowline (ABoK #1012) is the secure variation of the Bowline designed for use in wet conditions.

It performs better than the Double Bowline.

Step-by-Step Instructions (click to expand)

1. Make a loop on the rope.
2. Make another loop above it.
3. Overlap two loops to form a clove hitch.
4. Pass the working end through the loop.
5. Pass it around the standing part.
6. Feed it through the Clove hitch.
7. Tighten the knot.

Yosemite Bowline

The Yosemite Bowline is a standard bowline locked with a Yosemite finish.

The tail is passed around outside the loop and back through the knot a second time to form a Yosemite Tie-off. 

It holds better, but is easy to get wrong. It’s difficult to visually inspect than the Figure 8 follow through loop.

Step-by-Step Instructions (click to expand)

1. Pass the working end through the loop.
2. Pass it behind the standing part.
3. Feed it through the loop.
4. Take it under and over the bight.
5. Pass it through the loop.
6. Hold and pull loop A and then part B to tighten the knot.

Bowline with a Stopper Knot

To make the Bowline knot secure, tie the stopper knots like a Double overhand knot around the standing end or around the loop.

How to Tie the Bowline Fast with the Snap Bowline

The Snap Bowline is the fastest way to tie the Bowline.

Instead of threading the end through loops, you make the loop in the rope, snap the working end through, and pull it through in one move.

It’s faster, cleaner, and gives you a solid Bowline.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Make a loop in your rope.
2. Make a bight in the standing end and feed it through the loop.
3. Pass the working end through the loop.
4. Hold the working end with one hand and pull the standing end with the other.
5. The structure will invert and a Bowline is formed.

How to Tie the Bowline Knot with One Hand

The One Handed Bowline is a popular rescue knot useful for rescuing people who might have fallen down a hole or off a cliff.

Rescue teams use this method in an emergency when both hands are not available or the other hand is injured or occupied.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Hold the short end and create a loop around your hand.
2. Pass the short end round the standing end.
3. While holding the short end, withdraw your hand from the loop.
4. Tie an Overhand Stopper knot.

Bowline with Two Loops

Bowline isn’t just a single loop knot. Here are some Bowline Knot with two loops that you might run into.

Bowline on a Bight

The Bowline on a Bight (ABoK #1080) makes two fixed-sized loops at the middle of the rope, which can be tied without access to the ends.

It’s used as a tie-in knot taught by the German Alpine Club (DAV). It’s also used in rescue situations to make an emergency Bosun’s chair or a secure foothold in the middle of the rope.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Make a loop in the rope by passing the rope over the standing part.
2. Pass it through the loop.
3. Open up the bight and wrap it around the whole knot.
4. Continue until it encircles both standing ends.
5. Tighten the knot.

Spanish Bowline 

The Spanish Bowline (ABoK #1087) has two fixed loops instead of one. It’s tied in the middle of a rope without access to the ends.

It is often used in rescue situations for lifting people.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Make a loop in the middle of the rope with the standing ends crossing each other.
2. Fold it down backward to make two loops.
3. Fold the left loop across the center.
4. Fold the right loop across the center.
5. Pass the lower loops through the upper loops.
6. Tighten the knot.

French Bowline

The French Bowline (also known as the Portuguese Bowline) forms two loops similar to the Spanish Bowline, but the loops are adjustable in size.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Make an Overhand loop with the working end of your rope.
2. Make another large loop in the same direction.
3. Pass the working end through the small loop.
4. Pass it under the standing part.
5. Feed it through the small loop.
6. Tighten the knot.

Birmingham Bowline

The Birmingham Bowline has two loops.

The working part is passed around the standing part two times (the “rabbit” makes two loops out of the hole and around the tree).

Other Bowline Knots

Eskimo Bowline

The Eskimo Bowline (Cossack knot) is an alternative way to create a loop at the end of the rope.

The slipped version of this knot is called the Kalmyk Loop.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Make an Overhand loop with the working end of your rope.
2. Make another large loop in the same direction.
3. Pass the working end through the small loop.
4. Pass it under the standing part.
5. Feed it through the small loop.
6. Tighten the knot.

Cowboy Bowline or Dutch Bowline

The normal Bowline has a tail end at the center of the loop.

If the tail is passed the opposite way round the standing end, it forms a Left Handed Bowline (ABoK 1034 ½).

It performs better than the Bowline when subjected to the ring tension.

Some call this the “Anti Bowline.” Just don’t confuse it with just tying it left-handed.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Make a loop in the rope.
2. Pass the tag end through the loop.
3. Pass it under the standing end.
4. Feed it through the loop.
5. Tighten the knot.

Running Bowline

The Running Bowline (ABoK #1117) forms a sliding loop (Noose) which tightens up when tension is applied on the standing part of the rope.

It’s handy for cinching rope around the tree to set up a tree swing.

Step by Step Instructions: (click to expand)

1. Pass the rope around the object.
2. Form a loop on the working end.
3. Pass the working end over and under the standing end.
4. Feed it through the loop.
5. Go around itself.
6. Feed it through the loop to form a Bowline.
7. Tighten the Bowline.
8. Pull the standing end to tighten the knot against the object.

History of the Bowline Knot

The Bowline Knot goes way back, like the age of sails (1571-1862).

The name comes from the word “bow line.“ It’s a rope used to pull the square sail forward so it didn’t flap backwards into the wind.

The knot was mentioned in the Book Sea Grammar (1627) by John Smith. 

But John used the term “Boling Knot.”

Related Questions

How secure is the Bowline Knot?

Mostly, Yes.

It’s not recommended for critical applications where you might expect a dynamic and cyclic load. 

The Bowline knot retains the rope’s strength by about 60%. Its efficiency is around 77%.

Is Bowline Knot suitable for climbing?

Yes, but extreme caution is needed.

The Bowline knot used in climbing MUST be backed up with a stopper knot or tied with a Yosemite finish. 

Many accidents have happened due to incorrect tying. Always double-check.

That’s it for this article.

If you are just starting out, make it your go-to loop knot. Then, practice other variations of the Bowline.

Try tying it blindfolded. Do it left-handed and right-handed. Try it with one hand. Wrap it around a pole or around yourself. Try everything out!

Then you’ll really know the Bowline Knot.