| Did you know that how you start the bowline makes | | | | Wrap the standing part of the line around your |
| the difference as to whether this marine knots king | | | | extended fingers. Roll your dominant hand over toward |
| stays put--or comes undone? Practice these five | | | | the standing part so that your extended fingers point |
| easy steps to tie this knot the right way every time! | | | | down. This creates a loop on top of the standing part. |
| Slide up to a pier or slip and you might need to pass a | | | | 4. Pass the Bitter End |
| bowline around the piling fast. Take too long to tie the | | | | Pull your fingers out of the loop. Hold the loop steady in |
| knot and you could end up leaning way over the side. | | | | your non-dominant hand. Thread the end under and up |
| Get the sequence for the bowline knot right, and you | | | | through the loop. Next, pass it beneath and around the |
| will tie it faster and smoother. Follow these five steps | | | | standing part, and then up and back through the loop |
| to success: | | | | to form the bowline knot. |
| 1. Use Enough Line | | | | 5. Remove the Slack |
| Coil the line and hold it in your non-dominant hand. Split | | | | Pull the bitter end and the standing part in opposite |
| the coil and hold at least six feet in your dominant | | | | directions to remove the slack. If you've done things |
| hand. As soon as you are near the piling, drape the line | | | | right, you should have at least 4" to 6" of bitter end left |
| in your dominant hand around the piling and pull it back | | | | over after you finish the knot. The bowline needs this |
| toward you. | | | | extra line on the end in case you need to make |
| 2. Make a Loop on Top | | | | adjustments later on. |
| Extend the second and third fingers of your dominant | | | | ******************** |
| hand. Place your extended fingers on the bottom of | | | | Use these five easy steps to tie the king of marine |
| the standing part of the line (in your non-dominant | | | | knots faster and easier than ever before. This |
| hand). Keep just a bit of tension of the standing part | | | | powerful bowline knot will give you peace-of-mind that |
| for now. | | | | your small cruising boat will stay safe and secure in |
| 3. Wrap 'n Roll | | | | any type of marine weather. |