In a message dated 12/20/02 11:06:43 AM Pacific Standard Time,
kb9cry@attbi.com writes:
> I concur with Jon, having 20 years of yacht racing under my belt; racing
the
> same circuit as Jon does. A bowline is actually very easy to tie; with
> practice one can even do it single handed (helps when you're in the
foredeck
> position) and one can break (untie) it easily when it is wet. These knots
are
> under extremely high loads, a lot more than the average ham can induce,
and
> I too have never seen a bowline knot fail. Its the only knot I use for
hoisting
> or on loaded lines. I am not a rock climber but will admit those folks
need a
> strong knot also.
If you're stuck on a desert island and you can only take one knot with
you, I'd recommend the bowline.
Yes, a figure-8 is easier to tie for a beginner but it's a physically
bigger knot. My experience shows that many times when you're doing a lift
you'll be an inch or so short so using a bigger figure-8 knot only
exacerbates the problem. I use a bowline almost exclusively for the end of
the haul rope.
I use half-hitches for securing lines and a clove hitch for grabbing
round things like masts, booms, and tower members. That's it.
BTW a knot reduces the ultimate breaking strength of a rope by about 40%.
Cheers,
Steve K7LXC
TOWER TECH
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