Double Bowline Knot
How to tie the Double Bowline Knot. The Double Bowline is also known as the Round-Turn Bowline and often incorrectly called a Water Bowline. It is basically a classic Bowline Knot with two Overhand Loops, or with an extra wrapping turn around the bight. The added strength and robustness of the Double Bowline makes it well suited for rough activities and heavy-duty rigging.
The title of this knot can be misleading, as it does not result in a Bowline with two loops, such as a Spanish Bowline or French Bowline. Clifford Ashley says of this knot, "It holds the Bowline together in such a way as to lessen the danger of it capsizing, which is liable to occur when a single Bowline is carelessly drawn up".
Scroll to see Animated Double Bowline Knot below the illustration and tying instructions.
Double Bowline Knot Tying Instructions
- Lay the rope across your left hand with the free end hanging down. Form a small loop in the line in your hand.
- Repeat to form a second small loop below the first.
- Bring the free end up to and pass through both small loops from the under side (the rabbit comes out of the hole).
- Wrap the line around the standing line and back down through the two loops (around the tree and back down the hole).
- Tighten the knot by pulling on free end while holding standing line.
