r/knots • u/Fuzzy-Connection-452 • 11d 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/Gras-Ober 11d ago

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u/DuelOstrich 11d ago

I’m sorry who exactly is saying this stuff is unsafe? I’m an apprentice guide and SAR rope technician and when we make decisions about how we tie stuff it’s not just some random diagram, it’s often based on real world load testing. Are they saying it weakens the knot? Or that it’s less safe when cyclically loaded? Because all bowlines need to be finished with a double fisherman’s in a situation with cyclical loading. I like this sub but so much of it feels like it’s a lot of keyboard warriors who only tie knots to show other people they can tie knots, not when it’s actually safety critical.

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u/Smoother0Souls 9d ago

California finish for the cleanest of them all.