Tie a Bowline
Most outrigger canoes are stored on the beach or in a rack and do not need to be tied up, so rope skills are little known. However, knowing how to tie a few simple knots is part of contributing to a crew and the jobs that need to be performed and will be invaluable in an emergency. This article is part one in a series of useful marine knot tying skills. This article is about the Bowline (pronounced Bow, like in a bow and arrow) plus Lin, (sounds like chin). LEARN TO TIE THIS KNOT by clicking READ MORE>>>
Technically, a Hitch knot is used to tie the end of a rope to a thing. A Lashing knot is used the hold one thing to another thing and is an obviously important skill in outrigger canoeing for attaching the ama to the canoe. This article will describe the Bowline. Other Hitches and Lashings are covered in additional articles in this series.
Knowing how to tie the bowline knot will help you learn how to tie up a canoe routinely to a dock, or in an emergency. (All our canoes have a heaving line in a small red nylon pouch that can be used in emergencies. It is a Transport Canada requirement.)
A bowline is one of the most commonly used marine knots.
- It is used to attach a rope to a pole, a bollard or a ring and is a fixed loop knot that will not slip;
- It is an excellent choice for tieing the canoe to the dock;
- The loop can be tied around the iako or the seat to secure the boat to the dock;
- It will not apply a crushing force;
- It will not come apart by itself;
- It can be untied when wet or very tight;
- Its a great knot to tie a boat to a piling where tides are concerned as it will ride up and down the pile;
- It is tied by remembering the story "a rabbit comes up the hole around the tree and back down the hole".
How to tie the bowline:
Watch the Video:
More on different paddling knots can be found HERE
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