Among other applications, the knot can be used as an equalising anchor, a litter bridle or a makeshift Bosun's chair.

[10][11] ABoK #1083, earlier depicted by Hjalmar Öhrvall,[12] is an example of a Portuguese bowline on a bight.

[18] Among arborists,[19] in rescue,[20][21] and other vertical professions, it is frequently used alongside knots like the equalising eight in two-point anchors.

[23] Its most common application in sailing was to substitute for a Bosun's chair, but at the risk of suspension trauma.

[30] In a 2019 slop pull test, the Portuguese bowline on a bight with Yosemite finish[31] failed on an 11 mm high tenacity polyester rope at a minimum of 36.9 kN when it was pulled from its anchors into a forward facing bight, and on an 8 mm nylon cord at a minimum of 9.6 kN (only 9.1 kN without the Yosemite finish).