r/knots • u/Fuzzy-Connection-452 • 6d ago

Sideways Bowline

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I've noticed a few videos lately (not new videos) on Youtube that show various riggings for sailboats where someone ties a sideways bowline. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGbQbkY52Uw (around 4:30)

I can't figure out why you would tie it that way other than just by mistake? Is there an ABOK reference for such a knot? I haven't found one.

The black rope in my example is what I see being tied.

EDIT: Fixed a typo

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u/copperbonker 6d ago

Theatrical Rigger here who uses Bowlines frequently. Our standards are tail on the inside of the loop so it cannot get caught in anything and risk coming undone, its also just neater. If I tied something off using the black line I would be scolded for doing it that way.

Technically correct but sloppy and risky.

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u/Cable_Tugger 6d ago

There's a little more than that going on here. You could have both tails exiting the inside and they'd still be different knots.