A bowline is actually one of the best and safest knots to use. IF you are
using nylon rope a half-hitch above the bowline is an added insurance
against slippage.
Ron, KA9ALC
----- Original Message -----
From: <kb9cry@attbi.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: December 20, 2002 13:42
Subject: [Towertalk] Knots
> I concur with Jon, having 20 years of yacht racing under my belt; racing
the
> same circuit as Jon does. A bowline is actually very easy to tie; with
> practice one can even do it single handed (helps when you're in the
foredeck
> position) and one can break (untie) it easily when it is wet. These knots
are
> under extremely high loads, a lot more than the average ham can induce,
and I
> too have never seen a bowline knot fail. Its the only knot I use for
hoisting
> or on loaded lines. I am not a rock climber but will admit those folks
need a
> strong knot also. Phil KB9CRY
> > on 12/19/02 3:22 PM, Rudy Marcelletti, K8SWD at rudym@net-link.net
wrote:
> >
> > > Some one wrote they use bowline knots to attach their hooks with. The
better
> > > not is a figure 8 with a safety overhand. Then tape the overhand
tail. The
> > > figure 8 is stronger and easier to untie after it has been loaded.
> >
> > I am really skeptical of this statement. I have done a great deal
amount of
> > sailboat racing on yachts up to 50 feet over the last 10 years. I've
been
> > on three Chicago-Mackinac and one Port Huron-Mackinanc. Lines are
ALWAYS
> > tied with bowlines when attaching a line to a sail. I have never seen a
> > figure 8 used in a high stress situation.
> >
> > The amount of pressure put on a jib sail for a 40 foot racing sloop in a
20
> > to 30 mph wind is absolutely incredible. I don't know the exact number,
but
> > it's in the tons.
> >
> > I have seen a number of failures of halyards (line that holds up the
sail)
> > and sheets (sail controlling lines), but I have yet to see a properly
tied
> > bowline fail. I know of boats where winches ripped out of the
fiberglass
> > decking during storms, but the bowlines that they were using didn't
fail.
> >
> > From my experience, I'll trust a bowline any day. A properly tied
bowline
> > is an incredibly strong knot. The problem is probably that if not
properly
> > tied, you can run into problems. This is likely where it has gotten its
bad
> > wrap. A figure 8 is easier to tie, yes. But once you learn how to tie
a
> > bowline, its very simple. It just takes a while to learn.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Jon
> > NA9D
> >
> > -------------------------------------
> > Jon Ogden
> > NA9D (ex: KE9NA)
> >
> > Citizen of the People's Democratic Republik of Illinois
> >
> > Life Member: ARRL, NRA
> > Member: AMSAT, DXCC
> >
> > http://www.qsl.net/na9d
> >
> > "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
> >
> >
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