11/9/2023 0 Comments Splice a rope![]() ![]() To limit the test field, we focused on used polyester double braid, the most common rope in recreational sailing, and the sort of line most likely to be repaired or re-purposed by a budget-minded sailor. Our testers recognized that different rope materials, weaves, and diameters would act differently, but evaluating more than a few was beyond the scope of this project. Like a halyard, a lazyjack is a better candidate for a knot instead of stitched eye, in our opinion. Weve seen folks use them on too-small-to-splice lazy jacks, but we don’t think thats a good application because of the UV and exposure to chafe. Travelers, vangs, and main sheets also are good applications. Using these for genny sheets is okay they are easy to monitor and inspect, and they hang up less than knots. Seizings, sewn eyes, or stitched-and-seized eyes can be used in many onboard applications. ![]() Would doing both increase the strength of the eye splice? Stitched and seized eyes: As a sort of belt-and-suspenders approach, we also looked at a combination of sewn (stitched) and seized eyes. While these eyes are sewn by machine, we wanted to see whether hand-sewn eyes could match machine-sewn eyes in attainable strength. The sewn eyes found in commercial use are often protected with heavy heat-shrink tubing and generally last as long as the line. Sewn eyes remain a common termination in both construction and tree work industries, which are nearly as demanding as marine trades. Sewn eyes: Sewn eyes (see Other Stitching Techniques that Work Well) are less commonly used with cordage and sailing, but we see them all the time in vital webbing such as safety harnesses and on sails themselves. See the accompanying How We Tested for details of our testing, Who has not seen a tall ships standing rigging secured by dead eyes and seizings, tightly wound whipping twine seizing the bitter end to the standing end to form an eye?įor this report, we evaluated various types of seizings as a substitute for eyesplices. Seizings: Using smaller-diameter twine or wire to seize rope or wire-rope is as traditional as sailing. Luckily, there are several alternatives to splices and knots that can work well in a variety of applications. Many appear to hold at moderate loads, but slip apart or tear the cover under full tension. ![]() Additionally, a knots efficiency is less when using slippery, high-modulus lines, even when covered with a polyester jacket.Īlthough Practical Sailor has had surprisingly good results tying some high-modulus lines (see PS November 2010) that were commonly believed not to hold knots, others refuse to hold the most common knots at high load. ![]() The extent of weakening depends on the line size, construction, and the knot used, but a knot can weaken a line by anywhere from 20 to 55 percent. On the other hand, knots can be bulky and snag-prone, and they weaken the line. The knot has the same properties of abrasion and ultraviolet resistance as the cordage material itself and will serve as long as the line. They are fast, simple, and of known reliability. Knots are often the best substitute for a splice. The sailor who has an old, but still useful line that requires a splice-a halyard with just one frayed spot that could easily be re-used as a sheet, for example-needs an alternative. Finally, older lines are stiff and notoriously difficult to splice while some can be washed, softened, and spliced, some firmer lines are just plain impossible. Splicing is also a skill that many sailors today have not developed or practiced, and it can be difficult in field conditions. Riggers curse this situation, where either the builder went too small with blocks or sheaves, or more likely, some previous owner upped the line size to make it easier to handle, only to increase friction instead. This bury is large and stiff, and may not fit through blocks, particularly if the line size is already large in relation to the blocks. By carefully tucking cover and core back into the line, or weaving strands in laid line, and using patterns that have been perfected over time, we can create virtually full-strength terminations that will last the life of the line without maintenance. Splicing is king in any discussion of line termination. ![]()
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