Been using the bowline since the mid 50s. I too have never had one fail. We used them on military dives for the umbilical (tether to surface tender) with a minor exception. The rabbit stuck it's tail back out of the hole. A hard pull on the 'tail' would completely release the line. It was referred to as the 'diving bowline'. First we would try to talk the dive master out of the tether, failing that, we'd use the quick release version. Reason: if the tether became fouled or in any way prevented free access to the surface, the line could be released.
The Ralph's Hitch looks easy enough to learn and I haven't found any data about the hitch weakening the line. The bowline reduces line strength by 40% according to Cave.org <http://www.caves.org/section/vertical/nh/50/knotrope.html> Earl s/v nautidog #3188 ----- Original Message ---- From: David Shugarts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 11:05:26 AM Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Ralph's Hitch...(was...winch stuff) Hi, Joe-- Spoken like a true Eagle in every way! First, I notice that you say "as an Eagle Scout," which is a reflection that you don't really view it in the past tense. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle. Second, the bowline works reliably, and it unties well. It's money in the bank. But third, you are open to other ideas. There is a somewhat similar thing when you look at the tautline hitch. As a Scout, I was taught the tautline (er, taut the taughtline?) as a hitch starting with two parallel turns. But when I had a chance to sail on a wooden schooner, I was shown the sailor's tautline, in which the second turn stoppers the first turn. I later learned to call the sailor's hitch a "midshipman's hitch" and look them up in Ashley's Book of Knots. Here is a good page about this hitch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tautline_hitch The stoppered hitch holds better, but, as they point out, doesn't adjust as well under load. What was really hilarious was when I got into aviation, and watched people tying down the airplanes. (I may seem to digress, but, you may notice in the old cowboy movies that most of the actors don't know how to put a hitch on a rail when they tie up their horse at the saloon. You watch them kind of vaguely put a couple of turns around the rail and then stop and wonder how that's going to hold, but then they just saunter into the saloon anyway.) Well, aviation is like that, because I became convinced the knot the pilots were searching for is the tautline, but few could tie it. So I watched over and over again as pilots did the same "cowboy thing" to their airplanes. When I got the chance, I wrote about it for my pilot readers, many of whom were pleased to learn the correct knot. --Dave S. (Demitri) Eagle Scout since 1965 On 9/10/08 10:29 AM, "Joe McCary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ah, here is where most people have a moral problem with the Bowline. As an > Eagle Scout, I trust my ability to tie a Bowline. In my 45+ years since > learning it, I can't recall a single time that it has come loose or failed > me. Now I am open to new ideas so I will give the Ralph a try sometime when > it doesn't matter and see how it does. > > > Joe McCary > Aeolus II, West River, MD #4795 > www.aeoluswestriver.net > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> On Behalf Of Jim Bernstorf >> >> Trashing the bowline really goes against my basic Boy Scout instincts of >> being prepared. >> >> I have to really work to >> remember which hole the rabbit goes in! >
