Page 99 - Knots You Need to Know Easy-to-Follow Guide to the 30 Most Useful Knots
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The Back Splice
The back splice was originally conceived as a strong, durable means of
ending off a line when, on typically long windjammer voyages, whipping
cord was not available to sailors. For today’s recreational boatman, it
makes a firm handle for a bell rope, a lead line, or a bucket rope.
1. To make a back splice, unlay the line about six inches and make a
crown knot (pages 42–43). Pick up any of the three loose strands (here,
the red one) and, moving against the lay of the rope, loop the loose
strand over the nearest strand of the standing part of the rope, under the
next one (arrow), and pull it through. Give the rope a one-third turn away
from yourself, pick up the next strand (uncolored) and loop it over the first
standing strand and under the next. Turn the rope again, and repeat with
the yellow strand.
