Page 129 - Buck Tilton "Outward Bound Ropes, Knots, and Hitches"

Ropes, Knots, and Hitches

Back splice

A KnOt tHAt InteRweAveS tHe
StRAndS Of A LAId ROpe tO
pRevent fRAyIng
Traditionally, ropes were made of three strands
twisted (or laid) together. When the rope was cut
to the required length, splicing was required to
prevent fraying. Being able to back-splice a rope was
considered a basic skill required of all sailors. Some
ropes are made with four strands, but this same
method of back splicing will work with four strands.
Since back splicing serves the same purpose as
whipping (tying smaller stuff around a cut end of

XX
Back Spl XXe: Step 1 Back Splice: Step 2
c
i

XXXBegin by interweaving the XXX
Tighten the crown knot against
strands into a knot known as the end of the rope. Splicing
a crown, as shown in the pho- can start now.
tograph. Do this by forming
a bight in each strand, then
tucking the end of the adjacent
strand through the bight. Work
clockwise around the unraveled
end of the rope.

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