Splicing line

kpgraci · Nov 4, 2011

Spliced my main sheet when I first got the boat. It looked hard but after doing it I realized it was actually pretty easy once you get the concept.

What is it about splicing line that's make it more manly than sewing or braiding?

AtlanticAl · Nov 4, 2011

Oh forgot to say, i am also very good at splicing the main brace, which even though the sun hasnt quite gone down over the yard arm, i am splicing the main brace right now.

Ross · Nov 4, 2011

My favorite splice is on the main brace.

Richard Bryer · Nov 4, 2011

I do all my splices in double braid, have not done any 3 strand yet. I must have done over 50 splices of varying diameters over the years but I still have to use the step by step instructions and I couldn't describe how it is done. Must be a form of dyslexia?

Ross · Nov 4, 2011

I don't do double braid splices often enough to not need the instruction. But three strand I can splice in any manner you want while enjoying a beer and conversation.

Indysailor · Nov 4, 2011

tommays said:
With knotheads video it only took me about 37 times before i could do the constant diameter endless splice onboard and in place and the correct length on the furling boom because the stuff does NOT come apart

Same here- I practiced at home over the winter 3-4 times before doing it on the boat. Yours is a little cleaner than mine- that splice is harder than an eye splice if you ask me.

For fids- I tried Samson tubes and then just made my own out of a hanger, pulling the covers through instead of pushing. Knothead made it look pretty easy, but it's harder than it looks.

Kermit · Nov 4, 2011

Mike1956 said:
http://forums.pearson.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=594425

Try this link, it's from the original post from January 2009.

Thanks!
Kermit

Stu Jackson · Nov 4, 2011

Ohmygosh, Warren, there ya went and did it again!

I have the tools, the videos, the books and the materials.

I also, like someone else said, have lots of knots.

Just too lazy to learn anything new at my age.

Although, I must admit, I've been putting splicing off since I was 12!

Very successfully.

Joe · Nov 4, 2011

Kermit said:
jibes,
I searched the forums and could only find lots and lots of references to your "Magic Splicing Tool." Could not find the actual post. Would love it if you would post the link.
Thanks!
Kermit

It's a coat hanger with a hook on the end.

Joe · Nov 4, 2011

Splicing is cool. All your halyard and control line connections look and hold better with eye splices, rather than knots. You can find splicing instructions on each rope manufacturers website.

Some claim the "wand" type tool is the easiet for double braid. I have always used the solid type fid with masking tape to hold the rope in the end.... never could get the "pusher" to be that effective. I found it more effective to milk the fid through the crossover sections, or go in and out of small sections. I may purchase a wand, but I'll probably try making a tool like indysailor's.

Single braid, hi tech, is much easier than dacron double braid. The key on those types is to lock stitch and whip each end of the spliced section.

Dave Groshong · Nov 5, 2011

All U Get · Nov 5, 2011

Hi Warren,
I've done some double braid from writen directions and found it difficult to understand the method. Watching the video I got another "Aha" moment which makes the whole process seem easier. Since the PO left several fid kits of various sizes, I'm about ready to start splicing. How do you estimate the amount of line needed to make the splice? Lets say I want a 80 foot sheet of 3/8 inch line.
All U Get

Bill Roosa · Nov 5, 2011

splicing line and other knot fun

I can do both 3-strand and double braid. I found the instructions with WM "splice kit" to be easy to follow the second time through. Still have no idea what is going on till the very end when it all comes together.
My favorite is the turks head though. Put one on the helm to mark the "rudder centered" position and two in the 3 degrees port and starboard (different line type so you can tell by feel in the dark) to mark the "best rudder" for each tack. All that went over about 10000 french wipps that I wound the helm with. Only took about 2 six packs over 3 days to do it too.

Benny17441 · Nov 5, 2011

To make a long story short, I figured out a while back that the amount of practice that I would need to become profficient at splicing exceeded tenfold the number of splices that perhaps would be required in my boat for the coming five years. I also thought that the family members were not likely to appreciate much spliced trinkets as gifts for every occassions. Perhaps I'm to pragmatic but could not justify the effort in light of the need. In modern times we now have availability to all kinds of spliced lines and splicing services and in case of emergency when self sufiency might be put to the test a knot will likely do the job.

Ross · Nov 5, 2011

Benny17441 said:
To make a long story short, I figured out a while back that the amount of practice that I would need to become profficient at splicing exceeded tenfold the number of splices that perhaps would be required in my boat for the coming five years. I also thought that the family members were not likely to appreciate much spliced trinkets as gifts for every occassions. Perhaps I'm to pragmatic but could not justify the effort in light of the need. In modern times we now have availability to all kinds of spliced lines and splicing services and in case of emergency when self sufiency might be put to the test a knot will likely do the job.

We are not much like computers in that we don't seem to be able to exceed our total memory cards. I often wonder what people do with all of the vacant memory in their brains when then avoid learning a new skill.
Are they like some that i know that rush home in order to have time to read the paper and watch the evening news?

Joe · Nov 5, 2011

Benny17441 said:
To make a long story short, I figured out a while back that the amount of practice that I would need to become profficient at splicing exceeded tenfold the number of splices that perhaps would be required in my boat for the coming five years. I also thought that the family members were not likely to appreciate much spliced trinkets as gifts for every occassions. Perhaps I'm to pragmatic but could not justify the effort in light of the need. In modern times we now have availability to all kinds of spliced lines and splicing services and in case of emergency when self sufiency might be put to the test a knot will likely do the job.

Sad........ it isn't a competition or a business investment to engage in a little marlinspike seamanship. Yeah, it's cheaper to pay someone $20 to splice an eye in premade halyard.... so what? The joy is in doing it... not to make it fiscally logical.

Bill Roosa · Nov 6, 2011

I think Ross and Joe are getting there but they are happily married. All that rope work is akin to a peacock strutting his stuff to the hen. Your future first mate does not want a "captain" that does not know the first thing about "stuff on boats". We all like to feel that the owner has an oar in the water. Since he/she doesn't know squat either he/she is left to look for pretty things that would give indication this captain is more than a person with a check book and will not get me drowned the first time I go out with them.
So when you put splices, rope work, and all that artsy craftsy stuff on the boat it actually makes visitors (and potential first mates) feel more comfortable. And yes I actually had a lady tell me that she was apprehensive getting on the boat (her husband drug her) but once she "saw that Bill knew what he was doing" she relaxed. I asked what she saw and she said all the rope work.
And what do you do once you have the boat trimmed, Otto at the helm and no land in sight? Oh yea, that is when the i-pad, i-pod, computers, TV and air conditioning get turned on. I don't have the energy budget for that kind of life and refuse to run a genset when the sails are up and we are making way.
BTW, I don't care if you do any of those things I just don't see the attraction. Course I did my rope work, caught me a nice looking (and acting) first mate and would rather look at her than a 3x6" computer screen.

Ross · Nov 6, 2011

The other day I had friends visiting my boat and she, a 20 year navy vet, said that my boat would make a Bo'sons Mate proud.

Ross · Nov 6, 2011

The reasons some people give sometimes make no logic. I know men that visit athletic clubs twice each week for exercize and hire someone to mow their lawn. Much better that they have a walk behind power mower and push it themselves. Bench pressing weights and pushing a lawn mower differ only in the posture of the person.

Rick D · Nov 6, 2011

Hi Modulus

I did Spectra a while ago. It was totally different. I have to admit I was apprehensive about how she would work. I followed Sampson's directions with no idea why I was doing what I was doing, but it came together fine. Couple of hours per. Then, I had to do some for my traveler lines. Simple braided line. Well, it took several false starts before I got that done. It may have been the wine. Started with one glass. Abandoned the project at three. Next morning, it went right together with coffee :dance:.

I do, however, have two "temporary" knotted lines. I need to get to work on those. Only been a couple of years. Oddly, as old as I am, I never learned three strand. I think it's because they just came out ithe double braid, so all my splicing opportunities were replacing three with double. Boy, was that three strand stretchy! I still have a gold former main halyard that is at least 50 years old and likely older. I use it as a spring line when rafting. You wouldn't know it was Dacron it stretches so much.

Splicing line

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