Yachting Monthly — November 2017

November 2017 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 71

Double Bowline

In three strand and Marlowbraid this is a simpler way to improve
on the strength of a conventional bowline. Rather than making
one loop to pass the tail through, make two – one on top –before
passing the tail through it and round the standing part. This
could be a simple addition for use on genoa sheets for example.

Figure of eight loop

More commonly known for making stopper knots the figure
of eight has long been used for making loops in the climbing
community. It’s easiest tied in a bight, but can be tied by first
tying a figure of eight above where you want the loop, making
the loop and following the knot with the tail. It’s the strongest
way of making a loop in Dyneema cored ropes, slightly weaker in
Doublebraid, but stronger in the other lines tested.

Other knots

There is often much conjecture about right-handed verses

left-handed bowlines. Marlow's Paul Dyer was of the opinion

that if it were to make a difference, it would be in a rope with

a lay, so we tested both left- and right-handed methods. There

was only 10kg in the break load in favour of the left-handed

bowline, however it should be noted that the 10kg difference is

within the 1% error tolerance of the machine's load cell.

The other test was to see where a loop broke when attached

to a Dyneema soft shackle. We tied a double bowline in

Marlowbraid (which had a break load of 1,640kg) and used a

7mm Dyneema soft shackle to see whether the narrow bend

radius around the soft shackle would cause the rope to fail.

The good news for anyone using soft shackles – the rope failed

at the knot so the soft shackle did not weaken the loop.

*Cover broke, enabling the Dyneema core to slip through the knot

3 Strand 2640 1520 57. 6

Marlowbraid 2850 1600 56.1

Doublebraid 3690 1550 42.0

D2 Racing 5360 2740 51.1

Figure oF eight loop

3 Strand 2640 1580 59.8

Marlowbraid 2850 1640 57. 5

Doublebraid 3690 1580 42.8

D2 Racing 5360 1970* 36.8

Double bowline

Rope Break

Load (kg)

Knot Break

Load (kg)

% Strength

retained

Type of

Rope

Rope Break

Load (kg)

Knot Break

Load (kg)

% Strength

retained

Type of

Rope

If your genoa sheets are

Marlowbraid, tying a double

bowline retains 5% more of

the line's strength than a

conventional bowline

The Figure of eight loop is

popular with climbers

Testing to see if

a soft shackle

would damage

the rope before

the knot broke

Which knot is strongest? Technical