Bowline Knot
(Also Known As: Death Knot, Rescue Knot)

Uses: Commonly used in sailing small craft to secure the top of the main sheet to the main line. The Federal Aviation Administration recommends the bowline knot for tying down light aircraft. Commonly referred to as the rescue knot because it is used to lift people out of dangerous situations.
 

Efficiency: 60-75%

Instructions: This knot can be tied in a number of ways, including in the air, around an object, and around oneself.

The 'Bunny' method: 1) Form the hole (a loop). 2) The bunny comes up through the hole. 3) Passes around the tree. 4) And then back down through the hole. 5) Pull the knot tight.

Single hand method: 1) Grasp the free end with the thumb of the dominant hand (leaving some free length) and place the line behind the victim. 2) Cross the free end over the line in front of the victim. 3) Twist the hand under the line and up to form a loop around the wrist. 4) Push the free end around the line. 5) Then pull it through the wrist loop. 6) Pull the knot tight.

Notes: This is an ancient knot non-jamming knot and is considered the 'King of Knots'.

There are many 'loop on the end' knots. Like the others the bowline can be made and then secured over an object like a post. But many other loop knots are unlike the Bowline. The working end can first be passed through a ring object and then tied. This unique feature of the Bowline makes it a convenient loop knot and a knot every one should master. One bowline tied through another is one way of joining two ropes.