The Bowline on a Bight
How to Tie It & When to Use It

A bowline on a bight, also known as a double bowline or a French bowline, is a variation of the standard bowline knot that creates two loops instead of one. It's used when you need a secure and stable loop that can handle more weight or provide additional support. Here are some common purposes:

• Rescue Operations: The dual loops can be used to create a makeshift harness, offering more support and weight distribution for the person being rescued.
• Lifting and Hoisting: The two loops can securely hold objects or personnel, making it useful for lifting and lowering tasks.
• Mooring and Rigging: It provides a reliable, secure loop in sailing and other marine activities, ideal for attaching lines to various points on a ship.

The bowline on a bight adds versatility and security to tasks that require a strong and stable loop, making it a valuable knot in many scenarios.

The bowline on a bight is a secure and reliable knot, but like all knots, it does reduce the overall strength of the rope. Generally, the efficiency of a bowline on a bight is similar to that of the standard bowline, which retains about 60-70% of the rope's original strength. This means that while the knot is very useful and versatile, it does cause some reduction in the rope's breaking strength due to the bends and stress points created by the knot.

Despite this reduction, the bowline on a bight is highly valued for its ability to create two strong loops, making it suitable for rescue operations, lifting, and other tasks where secure and stable loops are essential.

A bight knot is used to create a loop in the middle of a rope without needing access to the ends of the rope. This type of knot is especially useful in situations where you need to form a loop but can't easily access the rope's ends, such as when the rope is already tied or anchored.

Common uses for a bight knot include:

• Climbing and Mountaineering: To create loops for anchors, harnesses, or securing equipment.
• Rescue Operations: For creating loops to aid in lifting or lowering individuals.
• Sailing and Boating: To form loops for attaching lines to various parts of the boat or securing sails.
• Camping and Outdoors: For setting up tents, tarps, or hanging equipment.

A well-known example of a bight knot is the bowline on a bight, which creates two loops and is often used in rescue situations and other applications requiring a strong, secure loop.