Which knot is commonly used when attaching a tag line to a load?

Which knot is commonly used when attaching a tag line to a load?

• A. Sheet bend
• B. Clove hitch
• C. Bowline
• D. Figure-eight knot

Answer: (C)

When attaching a tag line to a load, you need a knot that forms a secure, fixed loop at the end of the rope that won’t slip as you guide the load and that can be easily untied after the load is moved. The bowline provides that: it creates a reliable, non-slipping loop that holds around the load under tension and remains quick to untie once the line is released. A clove hitch can slip or shift if the load moves or isn’t supported squarely, so it’s less dependable for a loop that must stay in place. A sheet bend’s purpose is to join two ropes, not to create a dependable loop for a single tag line. A figure-eight knot functions mainly as a stopper or to create a looping point, but it isn’t as reliable for securing a load with a fixed loop as the bowline. Therefore, the bowline is the best choice for attaching a tag line to a load.

When attaching a tag line to a load, you need a knot that forms a secure, fixed loop at the end of the rope that won’t slip as you guide the load and that can be easily untied after the load is moved. The bowline provides that: it creates a reliable, non-slipping loop that holds around the load under tension and remains quick to untie once the line is released. A clove hitch can slip or shift if the load moves or isn’t supported squarely, so it’s less dependable for a loop that must stay in place. A sheet bend’s purpose is to join two ropes, not to create a dependable loop for a single tag line. A figure-eight knot functions mainly as a stopper or to create a looping point, but it isn’t as reliable for securing a load with a fixed loop as the bowline. Therefore, the bowline is the best choice for attaching a tag line to a load.