Learning how to tie a reliable knot has always been a key survival skill. Unfortunately it is also a skill that tends to get overlooked. I have learned in my outdoor experiences that there is a good and a bad knot for every situation. It has to be useful, reliable and easy to tie and untie in extreme situations. A proper knot can save lives in extreme situations. It is essential to carry a rope in your backpack of survival equipment but it is imperative to know how to tie a knot.
The term bowline originated in the early maritime days. It comes from the process of attaching the edge of a sail with a knot at the end of the rope to the bow of the sailing vessel holding it firmly into the wind to maintain proper direction and prevent the sail from moving about.
By now you might be asking yourself; why would I need to know how to tie this knot?
The bowline knot is useful in every situation where a knotted rope is required.
This knot is simple to use any time you need a fixed loop at the end of a rope. This knot will not slip. It will hold as much weight as the rope itself can tolerate and it comes easily undone after holding a load. Knowing this knot will definitely speed up some of the most frequently-encountered survival activities, like preparing a shelter or securing gear. The knot you choose to save a life needs to be easy to tie, and it should not slip. It needs to form a fixed loop around your person or object that will support the weight without cinching down, becoming untie-able or suffocate you while you’re being pulled to safety. The bowline is perfect for this, and you need to know the quick and easy way to tie it.
The bowline knot is often taught with the story of the rabbit coming out of the hole, in front of the tree, going behind the tree, and back down his original hole.
In other words, first form a loop on top of the long end of the line. Second, pass the free end of the line through the loop and around behind the line. Third, bring the free end down in the original loop, while maintaining the secondary loop which becomes your Bowline loop. Finally, once the “rabbit” is back down his hole, pull the “tree” up and the Bowline is tightened.
Some people prefer to look at diagrams or photos to learn how to tie the illustrated knots.
Perhaps these step by step photographs will help.
Perhaps these step by step photographs will help.
Step 1 Step 2
Step 3 Step 4
Knots are known to weaken the rope or line. If a knotted rope or line is strained to its breaking point it almost always fails at the knot or close to it. The bowline knot is reliable and strong. When the bowline knot is used the rope or line retains 65% of its strength at the knot, where other knots would work loose, capsize or fail completely by breaking the line. The load ability of the rope or line will in fact fail before the bowline knot would fail.
I could be wrong but I think the next time you find yourself in a situation where you need to tie a knot, I think you will remember how to tie a bowline knot.
Robbins, Royal. Basic Rockcraft. Glendale, CA: Siesta, 1971. Print.
Robbins, Royal. Advanced Rockcraft. [Glendale, Calif.]: La Siesta, 1973. Print.
Cinnamon, Jerry. Climbing Rock and Ice: Learning the Vertical Dance. Camden, Me.: Ragged Mountain, 1993. Print.
"Bowline." - How to Tie a. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Good opening pearagraph. Thesis is very clear in the first sentence. Good detail with the step by step pictures. With the pictures and detailed steps I could easily make this not. I liked how you sucked the readers by asking why it would be good to know the bowline knot. That made me want to read more.
ReplyDeleteYou tell why we should learn the skill in the opening sentence and get the readers attention. You also give good examples of what the knot can be used for as well as a little history"The term bowline originated in the early maritime days." that gets my interst as well. Good supporting sentences like..". Knowing this knot will definitely speed up some of the most frequently-encountered survival activities, like preparing a shelter or securing gear" Have you ever had problems tying the knot yourself? If so you should put in some of the commonn mistakes people make. There are a lot of pictures and not a whole lot of written direction. I do good with pictures but do better with more written expanation. As far as the essay is overall I think it is too short with too many pictures and that might reflect in your grade. I like it though and I think I could learn how to tie the knot.
ReplyDeleteYour thesis statement is very clear right off the bat, why we should learn this skill. I would like hear some experiences you have had that this knot has come into play. May be you could do with a couple less pictures? I think it does help to get your point across, but some more written documentation would be nice. The flow was nice and every step made sense where it was placed.
ReplyDeleteYour thesis was very easy to pick out. I loved first paragraph because I totally agree with you, I don't think much of a knot when it comes down to it but learning how to tie a knot correctly can be very important after reading your essay. I love the pictures as it help me visualize it a lot easier. I like to see a little bit more of details of how you came to this subject and if you ever had to use this bowline know. I didn't see any errors with typo so great job.
ReplyDeleteI think the thesis would be why we need to learn this knot. the illustrations really keep me interested throughout. good transitions, also didn't find any errors so great job. Thank you
ReplyDeleteYour thesis is very clear and i really enjoyed this essay, because i have no idea how to do any other knot other than your basic knot. I did like your use of pictures and i understand you topic here is difficult to describe but i felt that at times they took away from your essay. overall good job though!
ReplyDeleteI am looking for a strong thesis, structure, organization and supporting detail in these drafts. In class tonight students will have the opportunity to check their essays for a thesis statement, proper organization and transitional words, phrases and sentences that show their essays to be organized. I am not reading these for proofing errors or diction right now, but will in the coming weeks as I score them. If I do not mention it in this comment, I have not seen overt weaknesses in structure, thesis or organization. At first read, there appears to be enough supporting detail to yeild *at least* an average score in development. Unless I specifically mention it, there are no obvious problems that would prevent you from scoring in the average range or better. As for above average or "A" quality, that will be more obvious as I sit with your essay longer. As long as the essay is turned in on time, the essay is eligible for revision and a higher score.
ReplyDelete*I loved this as a speech! As for your final draft (and we can adjust this tonight even if you've already printed it out) decisions need to be made regarding the number of images you use. Choose 1. Use specific language to describe each subsequent step shown in the pictures. Still, this is a focused and clear piece.