Splicing Nuts

[newsailor06]

Has anyone had actual experience in using these? I am getting ready to redo the halyard eye on my jib using a fid kit and am wondering if the splicing nut would be the answer. Not that making a new eye isn't good practice, but this product seems to be preferable to trying to splice in a new eye in an older halyard. By older,I mean about 3 yrs. Still in great shape, but I didn't realize I needed a pendant on the furler and have worn the old eye a little. While I have the jib down for maintenance, I plan to redo.Any experience with this would be appreciated. I am not trying to sell it, and have no personal interest in the product, just wondering if it is worth using.

 

[Gordon]

use them for both the main and headsail halyards - great product for the priceeasy to install and have had no failures since installing them last winter

 

[newsailor06]

Thanks Gordon

They do look great and I have a couple coming from a sailboat dealer in Kansas. For the jib halyard, I won't have that much stress on it and it should streamline the hook up close to the masthead sheave.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Friend of mine has been

using the Splicing Nut for a number of applications on his Pearson 28-II. While he likes them, the one he was using for the main halyard cracked after about 2 seasons of use. Luckily, he was able to inspect it each time he was raising his main and so was able to avoid a problem before it was too late. He thought the failure was due to a combination UV degradation and the nut knocking against the mast now and then.

 

[newsailor06]

Hmmm..

I guess that if I were to use them on the furler at the masthead I would want to look them over often. Not a real problem since I take the jib down to inspect anyway.

 

[Stu Jackson]

What's wrong with a bowline?

nm

 

[newsailor06]

Knot a thing.....

I am just not the best at tying one and keeping it small. It may very well be the one that I use, but thought I would ask about the splicing nut. It would make the area compact and streamlined with less likelihood of jamming. It may end up being the bowline, but I have read numerous comments about the bowline coming loose.. Not that it would happen, I haven't been back to the boat since a friend and I looked over the furler and found the problem. I am taking the time to see if there might be something that might work better.

 

[Ross]

It is very difficult to splice old or used double braid

but a loop can be made with a strong seizing and hand sewing the tail to the standing part. The splicing nut looks like it could have application but I don't think I would trust it for a long passage.

 

[Ross]

For a knot that won't come loose and requires a marline spike to

loosen consider the buntline hitch. Made for the need to tie a line to a sail that may flog considerably and remain secure.

 

[RichH]

Bowline only gives 70% of the strength of the rope.

.... and thats if you KNOW how to tie one correctly and not its 'backwards version. Its BIG, and can shake loose. Can be 'doubled' for extra strength. Better to tie a doubled figure of eight ... like the mountain climbers do, much stronger than a bowline for tying into rings, clews, etc. and definitely wont ever shake loose or 'trip'. Buntline is better. Buntline tied with a constrictor instead of a clove is even better ... but you need an axe to untie it.

 

[Ross]

RichH that is called a hatchet bowline.

;D

 

[Ross]

You can always use a riggers technique and seize the

tail to the standing part with some small stuff. You do keep a ball of small stuff on board, don't you.edit to add : Small stuff. Light waxed seine twine or marline used for seizings and whippings.

 

[newsailor06]

After mulling it over

I have decided to try to splice in the eye using my new fid kit. Then if I have problems getting the braided line to stretch enough to make it work, I will use the double figure eight. I am an old climber from way back and used the figure eight, or as some might call it the Alpine Butterfly. It is a knot that I put a lot of faith in, and I can tie it neatly enough to make room at the mastead. I might also consider the hatchet bowline/buntline.I still need to add a pendant to the jib to lift it off of the deck a little for visibility. I will try using the splicing nut on that and then I can keep an eye on it and also test its strength.

 

[Robert Gainer]

If you want to splice old line

If you want to splice old line try soaking it in a bucket of fresh water and dish soap overnight. It will be easier to work with after that.All the best,Robert Gainer

 

[Timo42]

Before I learned

that "you can't splice old line", I used my old halyard to make a mainsheet for my traveller setup, since it was 7/16 and looked to be in good condition,worked just fine, haven't done enough to know if I was having trouble worst case scenario, you get some practice. The eyes in the new halyards did seem easier, but they were 3/8 so... ymmv Tim

 

[Rodney]

I use them aboard my boat for the davit falls, the topping lift to boom attachment, and the vang rigging. Had them installed for about 2 years, no problems. Quick & easy.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Not in my knot experience

Some time ago, "Good Old Boat" ran an article about how various sailors attach their jib sheets to the clew of the sail. I was astounded to only find passing reference to the good old bowline. And that reference was negative, that is, it suggested the bowline was not a good knot to use for that application as it tended to flog itself open. Not in my knot eperience. I even discussed this with Karen Larson of GOB. I've used a fuzzy braid Dacron for headsail sheets for years as (1) it has a nice "hand," (2) it is not too expensive, (3) it does not stretch too much, and (4) you can tie a bowline with it that will never open until you are ready to open it. In all my years of sailing I have never had one of my bowlines open when I didn't want it to.And while any knot or bend in a line is going to cause some loss of strength in the line, when you do the math (i.e., a 7/16th-in line tied to a 300 sq ft sail) it doesn't produce nearly enough pressure to come close to the breaking point at that bend or knot. I love the bowline!

 

[Ross]

All knots must be drawn up carefully after they are tied

Some are more prone than others to shake loose. Ashley discusses this at some length in his book. Seizing the tail to the standing part eliminates the problem.