Usage
The Bowline-on-a-Bight can be used for various purposes, including creating a foothold in the middle of a rope, forming an emergency bosun's chair, or serving as an upper rope "block" for a crude purchase system by threading the rope around an anchor point and back through the loop. It is sometimes used in sport climbing to independently tie into two anchor bolts. This knot is particularly useful when a reliable loop is needed, but neither end of the rope is accessible. Additionally, it's often employed as a seat for hoisting, offering two secure loops compared to the single loop of a traditional Bowline. In theory, this design could allow for hoisting multiple people on a single rope. The knot is also popular in spelunking or potholing, as it distributes the load between two anchor points, reducing stress and providing a backup if one anchor fails. Known as the "Y-Hang," it allows for a free-hang descent and can be easily adjusted.
Warning
Verify tying technique with a skilled instructor where knot failure could cause property damage, injury, or death.
Also known as
- Bosun's Chair
- Y-Hang
- Bowline upon the Bight
- Two Loop Bowline
ABOK
Structure
The Bowline on a Bight is a knot which makes a pair of fixed-size loops in the middle of a rope. Its advantages are that its loops do not slip and it is reasonably easy to untie after being exposed to a strain. The Bowline on the Bight is identical in structure to the
Rethreaded Bowline but is tied differently.
