Jib Sheet Repair - Eye Splice and Soft Shackle

[jssailem]

Terry. It was less than 90 minutes and I was interrupted by grandkids twice.
If your going to attempt it I would encourage you to consider new line. It is a lot easier with new line.

As an alternative you can do a quickie by whipping the line. Strength of a whipped eye splice is like 80%of the line. That is a little stronger than the same as a line with a knot like a bowlin. Knots can weaken line from 20 to 55 %. It is the bend in the knots that do the line in. .

Compromise the nature of boating. If in doubt use a little larger line and tie a knot.
I fine that older lines or lines that are a wee bit short and I don't want to use up line with a splice serve well with a whipped eye splice.
Here is an example of a quick and dirty whipped splice that will serve the purpose I intend. When the splice wears down I will replace. Only step left is to cover the whipping with a little UV protection to lengthen the time before deterioration.

 

[Joe]

Sure, sailing solo I don't need it. However, I also teach younger folks how to sail. I use the red and green lines to help reinforce port and starboard.

I understand that.... but since the entire boat is either red or green... port or starboard.... why confuse them. You could just paste a green or red sticker on either side.... flags, tags hanging on the life lines, etc. Or give them color coded wrist bands, hell, I have a pair of sailing gloves that have colored bands so I'll remember left from right.

It's more important for them to learn the concept of "windward" "leeward" or "active" "lazy" .... something that is directly relevant to the task at hand. Otherwise they will identify the turning process with some color code and want to ask whether to use the red or green sheet. What happens when they get on a normal boat with sheets all the same color?

I'm sorry to be critical of this particular item.... I just think it adds to confusion in the long run... anyway...sounds like it's been working for you, I think it's cool that you're helping kids appreciate the sport.... carry on my brother.

 

[thinwater]

...
Here is an example of a quick and dirty whipped splice that will serve the purpose I intend. When the splice wears down I will replace. Only step left is to cover the whipping with a little UV protection to lengthen the time before deterioration.

I developed the data for the above table by breaking nearly one hundred sewn splices on many line types. I also tried things that did not work, including seizing.

One thing I learned in the process is that whipped/seized eyes are ONLY about 25-40% line strength on a good day. The reason is that nylon shrinks (stretches) under extreme load and the seizing gets loose and slides down. The method made sense for laid hemp, but not for braided nylon. It is a little better on polyester (30-55%), because it stretches less, but ONLY if the seizing is applied under extreme tension with a serving mallet. I really tried to make seizings work, but they just are not reliable at high load factors. They creep. They also require more chafe protection than sewn splices and take longer.

Eyes in industrial safety gear are sewn by a special machine, not seized. Seizing does not hold on nylon, and nylon climbing rope is very, very difficult to splice (difference construction than yachting double braid). Sewn splices can be very close to 100% strength, certainly >85% without extraordinary care.

I've been using sewn eyes for decades. I've never had one fail, but they must be done well and protected from chafe. I know how to splice, and conventional splices are more chafe resistant, but splicing old rope is a pain. I also use knots unless there is a reason a splice is better (many applications, like halyards, are based on chafe or stretch, not strength).

 

[dLj]

I'm sorry to be critical of this particular item.... I just think it adds to confusion in the long run... anyway...sounds like it's been working for you, I think it's cool that you're helping kids appreciate the sport.... carry on my brother.

No worries, I don't take it as critisim. Nobody has ever seemed confused. After awhile, they aren't used as crutches at all. Plus, don't forget you can't see the difference in color in the dark. I consider night sailing required for complete learning.

dj