Page 191 - Des Pawson "Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices"

Spanish Windlass

The Spanish windlass is a crude but

fairly effective way of tightening a
rope using two poles or, for small line,
a spike or similar and a bar. Take

care, as a surprising degree of tension
can soon be built up; you can even get

a bit of a “kick back,” but it is a
useful technique to have in
emergencies. It does not do a lot of

good to the rope—it tends to distort
the lay of the rope and give a great

deal of localized friction.

1 With a vertical and a horizontal pole, use
the horizontal pole to catch the rope and
then twist with the horizontal pole braced

against the vertical pole.
2 Bring the horizontal pole square with the
vertical and rotate round the vertical pole,
passing over/under the rope when it is

met.
3 Continue until sufficient tension has been

created. Keep the tension by holding the
horizontal pole against the rope with your
hand or get someone to put on a
temporary seizing round pole and rope.

Beware of any kick back.

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