Question for those who splice their own halyards etc.

[kito]

I'm going practice with my new Samson splicing kit before I make me some new headsail, main and auxiliary halyards. Plus my vang and mainsheet lines. Question is, I was going to splice eyes on the end without thimbles on the halyards.....bad idea or not?

 

[kloudie1]

Many, if not most, halyards are spliced around the shackle without a thimble. My boat has been that way for 30 years or so. The wire tailed ones will have a thimble.

 

[Jackdaw]

For the VAST majority of boats and the vast majority of running rigging no thimble.

High performance boats with dyneema rigging will use them in high stress areas (code 0 halyards etc) to spread the load at the turn but for simple double braid no need at all.

 

[kito]

Thanks kloudie1. My old existing halyards have thimbles spliced into them. I was not sure the point of it. Sounds great.....I don't have thimbles anyway and wanted to make them this weekend. Will make a nice project during our blizzard we are having.

 

[kito]

For the VAST majority of boats and the vast majority of running rigging no thimble.

High performance boats with dyneema rigging will use them in high stress areas (code 0 halyards etc) to spread the load at the turn but for simple double braid no need at all.

Thanks Jackdaw. I did buy a pre-made 3/16" dyneema piece with a thimble spliced in for my vang that you recommended to double my 4:1 to 8:1.

 

[Jackdaw]

Thanks Jackdaw. I did buy a pre-made 3/16" dyneema piece with a thimble spliced in for my vang that you recommended to double my 4:1 to 8:1.

That would be a place I'd would not be surprised to find one!

 

[weinie]

Halyard hitch does the trick and no splicing needed.
http://www.animatedknots.com/halyar...png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint

 

[kito]

Halyard hitch does the trick and no splicing needed.
http://www.animatedknots.com/halyar...png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint

I may do that if my splicing talents are not up to par on my halyards. I kind of need to splice an 'eye' on my vang and mainsheet beckets since a halyard hitch or bowline may be to bulky.

 

[Jackdaw]

Halyard hitch does the trick and no splicing needed.
http://www.animatedknots.com/halyar...png&Website=www.animatedknots.com#ScrollPoint

We use this knot exclusively on all our halyards.

 

[woodster]

Learn how to splice the double braid and how to seize the ends and splices. The more you do it the better you will get and don't worry about having to use the directions it's ok to not try and remember the fid measurements just take your time and do it over and over and in time you will get it down pat I spliced every line on my boat and am glad I did and I still pull out the direction sheet every time I do one even on my three strand dock lines after a while it gets to be great fun

 

[kito]

Learn how to splice the double braid and how to seize the ends and splices. The more you do it the better you will get and don't worry about having to use the directions it's ok to not try and remember the fid measurements just take your time and do it over and over and in time you will get it down pat I spliced every line on my boat and am glad I did and I still pull out the direction sheet every time I do one even on my three strand dock lines after a while it gets to be great fun

I got plenty of time to practice that's for sure. I never did double braid......only hollow braid which is simple. Lots of Youtube videos to help me out too. 3 strand......I don't know about that.

 

[woodster]

There strand nylon works great for dock lines it has stretch built in where as poly Dacron does not it is better suited for a Saftey line when climbing and if used for dock lines could rip the cleats out of your deck

 

[Meriachee]

Splicing isn't hard, get a few yards of line to play splice before you do something for real. A really good way of testing is to use the line for fenders if you're happy with the test results.

 

[rgranger]

I may do that if my splicing talents are not up to par on my halyards. I kind of need to splice an 'eye' on my vang and mainsheet beckets since a halyard hitch or bowline may be to bulky.

I got a book (year ago) for Christmas on tying knots and splicing. Splicing turns out to be very easy and you won't have any trouble getting the knack of it. i started splicing everything and made custom line for my bumpers, dock lines etc......However.... the little bit of extra weight that results from a halyard hitch comes in very handy when you accidentally run a halyard up the mast. I find that I can usually "flick" the halyard and it will walk its way back to the deck. That was not true when I used spliced halyards.

 

[SailormanDan]

3 strand......I don't know about that

3-strand is less complicated to splice once you get into the rhythm of the pattern, I've several lines of one kind or another.
Samson had a clear video for double-braid if I remember correctly, didn't look "hard", just several steps to follow-through. Woodster point about seizing the lines may be the hardest to get to look neat and not come unravelled.

 

[weinie]

I've found this to be the best video for splicing double braid. Every winter I play around with splicing....and I completely forget how to do it by spring.

 

[JohnVTX]

I've found this to be the best video for splicing double braid. Every winter I play around with splicing....and I completely forget how to do it by spring.

Very cool.

 

[kito]

It's funny on how many different ways people splice double braid. That video show's a more involved splice than others I have seen. It's probably a better and cleaner looking splice though. I will be trying it this afternoon. Just waiting for Mr. Postman to deliver my splicing kit today in all this snow.

 

[DougM]

I have used halyard hitches on all three of the halyards on my boat rather than splices simply because I reverse the halyards every year.
On the other hand, I splice and stitch the end of my mainsheet to the becket on the first block. If it wears a bit, I can cut a short section off and resplice. the double braid is really quite easy to splice once. You get the knack of it. The right size fid and a pusher is the key.
Three strand dock lines and fender lines are really easy to splice. Some of my lines are extra long for my docking situation, so as they wear or chafe I can shorten them and use in a different location. Obviously, the three strand as pointed out has more give to it.
Another way to use three strand for fender lines or for sail ties is to take it apart and braid it. That makes a flatter lying line that in the case of a sail tie at least can be easily secured with a timber hitch.

 

[kito]

I have been practicing my halyard hitch and it makes a small, clean looking knot. I will not be splicing my halyards now....only lines connected to a becket. At this point I trust my knot tying over my splicing anyway