Water bowline

Water bowline
Category	Loop
Related	double bowline
Releasing	Non-jamming
Typical use	Wet conditions
ABoK	#1012

The water bowline is a type of knot designed for use in wet conditions where other knots may slip or jam.

Although similar in finished appearance to the double bowline, the water bowline is formed with a clove hitch as the loop in the standing part of the rope. This is similar to the double bowline, which puts the running end through a round turn. The additional friction from the clove hitch increases the security of this knot.

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  1. Make a half hitch
• 
  2. Complete the clove hitch

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  3. Through the clove hitch
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  4. Around standing end
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  5. Back through hitches

The Water Bowline can be tied very quickly by throwing two half hitches over the working end and then running the working end around the standing line and back through both half hitches. This is illustrated in the three pictures below.

• 
  Throw the first hitch
• 
  Throw the second hitch
• 
  Complete the knot

• List of knots

• Little Campfires (2020-08-01). “How to Tie a Bowline Knot (Plus Variations): Water Bowline”. YouTube.
• TheTautLine (2023-09-11). “Complete Guide to the Bowline Knot and its Most Important Variants: Water Bowline”. YouTube.
• Water bowline knot