Double Fisherman's Bend (Grapevine Knot) Details
Structure: The Double Fisherman's, or Grapevine, Bend (ABOK # 294, p 50.) consists of two double overhand knots each tied round the other standing end. However, because it is created around another line, this structure may not be obvious.
Safety: For load-bearing using modern high modulus ropes such as Spectra, Dyneema or Kevlar/Technora, use a Triple Fisherman's (on left). In each stopper knot the rope is passed around a third time before being threaded back through the loops. The triple, or even quadruple, version is also used by fishermen to join two lengths of fishing line.
Uses: The Double Fisherman's Bend is the way to form a Prusik Loop and is an excellent and reliable way of joining two climbing ropes. It can be used for a full rope-length abseil; after which it is still possible to retrieve the rope.
Inspection: The Double Fisherman's Bend is not complicated. Nevertheless, it can be tied wrongly and then fail. If you tie it and your life depends on it, inspect it carefully. If someone else ties it, inspect it extremely carefully.
Comparisons: The Double Fisherman's is a reliable, compact knot suitable for use when retrieving an abseil, but somewhat harder to undo than the Figure 8 Bend.
- The Figure 8 Bend may be bulkier - especially when stopper knots are added for safety. It is however, relatively easy to teach and inspect.
- The Overhand Knot Join (an overhand knot tied with both ends together with lengthy ends) is the rope join least likely to get stuck (picture on right). This is because the two ropes enter the knot at the same point and, therefore, pass over an obstruction relatively easily. Its use as a join is approved and recommended by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). For additional safety it is also used with an extra overhand knot in the tails. Some writers refer to it as the "Euro Death-Knot" (EDK) because of concern that it can roll over and fail.
- The "Euro Death-Knot" (EDK) may be more appropriately used to describe the Figure 8 version of the join just described. The Figure 8 fails by rolling over even when the ends are long! It has been associated with a number of deaths, and is deliberately not illustrated here.
However, both of these knots have been extensively reviewed and tested by Thomas Moyer, one of the writers who applies the term EDK to both the overhand and the figure 8 versions. He provides useful references to detailed accounts of accidents as well as the results of his tests in which both knots failed by rolling.
