[quote=klozhald][quote=edchris177]It is also compact, you can easily make the tail almost zero[/quote]
The key to any knot holding is setting it under stress, and using rope that takes a set. Edchris' comment is applicable to a number of knots, including the bowline.
When you cut your line, use heat (flame) to mushroom the end. After you tie the knot, put a working load on it to set the knot. Get it tight. On an anchor knot or bowline, this means the mushroomed end is up against the knot. My dogbones have been tied this was for decades without failure. I was ocean sailing a few weeks ago and a bowline I tied on a retaining line (but did [i]not[/i] set with force) came apart while I was sailing. My fault, not the knot's.
That said, firemen and climbers here tie a slightly different bowline. Imagine that the "rabbit" goes around the tree the other way, and the bitter end ends up on the outside of the knot instead of in the loop. They use a long tail, and tie several overhand knots with it around the loop. This is off track, and not intended to be a solution for you. Apologies. My $0.02.[/quote]
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