BowlineThe bowline, with its many variations, has a lot ofuses. Its chief use is to form an eye; but it can also beused to secure a line to a pad eye, to secure another ringaround a stanchion or other object, or to bend two linestogether.To tie a bowline, you should—1. Grasp the bitter end of the line in the right handand the standing part in the left hand (opposite,if left-handed). Assuming you are using smallstuff, the length of line between your handsshould be about 2 feet.2. Throw an overhand loop counterclockwise nearyour left hand (clockwise near your right hand,if you are left-handed).3. Grasp the loop formed and hold it. Pass the bitterend up through the bottom of the loop, as shownin figure 7-17, view A.4. Pull the bitter end up through the loop, and passit around behind the standing part of the line (fig.7-17, view B).5. Pass the bitter end down through the loop besidethe line that was pulled up through the loop (fig.7-17, view C).6. To tighten the knot, grasp the standing part inone hand and the two lines passed through theloop with the other hand, and pull.Becket BendThe chief value of the becket bend is its use inbinding together two lines of different sizes. If there is agreat difference in sizes or the strain on the line is to begreat, always use a double becket bend.To fashion a single becket bend, you should—1. Make a bight in one line and run the bitter end ofthe other line up through it, as shown in figure7-18, view A.2. Pass the end around behind both parts of thebight and back under itself (fig. 7-18, view B).Figure 7-18, view C, shows how you make a doublebecket bend by simply taking another turn around thebight. (These bends are also known as sheet bends.)Clove HitchThe clove hitch can be quickly and easily tied inseveral ways, and it will hold as long as there is a strainon it. Once the strain is taken off, however, the hitchmust be checked and tightened to prevent the bitter endfrom pulling out when the strain is reapplied. To makethis checking and tightening unnecessary, you lash aclove hitch with a half hitch around the standing part.To tie this hitch (fig. 7-19), you should—1. Take a turn with the bitter end.2. Pass the end across the standing part.7-16Student Notes:Figure 7-17.—Tying a bowline.
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