Quick one for StuM and other knot lovers

[Seaworthy Lass]

Hi Stu (and all other knot lovers)

A small challenge that you may enjoy:

Try re-dressing a bowline to form a perfect Ashley (Oysterman’s) stopper. I was amazed that one transforms to the other. I have not read this before.

Hint: It is easiest to work out the technique by dressing an Oysterman’s to form a bowline than vice versa. It does your head in the other way .

SWL

[StuM]

Got me beat. as far as I can see, they are not topologically equivalent.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by StuM

Got me beat. as far as I can see, they are not topologically equivalent.

They are sneakily identical .

Do you want to persist or shall I take some photos?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

They are sneakily identical .

Do you want to persist or shall I take some photos?

Still playing, but go ahead and take some photos

[Seaworthy Lass]

Give up yet?

[Seaworthy Lass]

Here is the solution:

Tie a loose Oysterman’s whichever way you prefer (starting with a slip knot as I have done here and as Ashley illustrates in #526, or otherwise as Grog shows).

Stop before tightening it all up. It will look like photo 2.
At this stage if you tightened the overhand, then tugged on the standing end, then the tail, you would have on Oysterman’s.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Instead of tightening the overhand, gently tug on the standing end and wriggle the junction until it looks like this.
The tail will flip to the other side of the loop. The loop itself does not move:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Keep tugging on the standing end and miraculously a bowline appears!

I was playing around with forming an Oysterman’s and wondered what kind of loop it would make if one portion was left as a loop before tightening and low and behold it was a bowline .

[Seaworthy Lass]

Cool, isn’t it?

SWL

[S/V Alchemy]

Now I have to explain why I'm playing with two metres of line at my computer desk...

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Now I have to explain why I'm playing with two metres of line at my computer desk...

Make sure you reassure them that CF is not a bondage website .

SWL

[alansmith]

Geeks

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by alansmith

Geeks

Guilty as charged .

[Montanan]

Wow, that was interesting to see a stopper redressed to a bowline.

Now, can anyone show me how to redress a Lubber Knot into a Bow Line Knot, especially when the Lubber Knot is taut?

That would be a very useful maritime skill.

Back in my youth when I was an Eagle Scout and a Sea Scout, I was fairly adept with knots, however not anymore.

[noelex 77]

I sometimes tie a granny knot just to get a reaction from SWL