8 Plait anchor rode splice onto chain

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dje67

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I recently discovered that the splice between my 10mm anchor chain and 16mm 8 plait rode had degraded such that any significant load on it would probably have resulted in it parting... The last time I brought the anchor up the windlass jammed as the splice came onboard and I reckon that the jamming and releasing actions did the damage. 2 strands almost cut-through and another 4 had untied themselves.

The existing splice takes the 8 strands and feeds them through the last 6-8 links of the chain. Some strands were knotted-off at the end of the splice; others were fed back to the rode itself and spliced into the incoming rode. This arrangement does make the splice quite thick and it doesn't feed over the windlass gypsy without, sometimes, jumping off the gypsy (quite alarming and likely to end up with the whole lot in the water if the gypsy doesn't 'catch' the outgoing rode).

IMG_3829.JPGIMG_3830.JPG

So:-

1) What's the best way of joining 8 plait onto chain that avoids a very thick splice and allows the splice to fit through the windlass?

2) Anyone got a video of how to do this (I can't find any on youtube; plenty of 3 strand onto chain, though)

3) If your setup is the same as mine, check the splice thoroughly as it is almost certainly the weakest link of the gear and will take a lot of abuse as it goes through a windlass.
 
dje67 said:
I recently discovered that the splice between my 10mm anchor chain and 16mm 8 plait rode had degraded such that any significant load on it would probably have resulted in it parting... The last time I brought the anchor up the windlass jammed as the splice came onboard and I reckon that the jamming and releasing actions did the damage. 2 strands almost cut-through and another 4 had untied themselves.

The existing splice takes the 8 strands and feeds them through the last 6-8 links of the chain. Some strands were knotted-off at the end of the splice; others were fed back to the rode itself and spliced into the incoming rode. This arrangement does make the splice quite thick and it doesn't feed over the windlass gypsy without, sometimes, jumping off the gypsy (quite alarming and likely to end up with the whole lot in the water if the gypsy doesn't 'catch' the outgoing rode).

View attachment 100678View attachment 100679

So:-

1) What's the best way of joining 8 plait onto chain that avoids a very thick splice and allows the splice to fit through the windlass?

2) Anyone got a video of how to do this (I can't find any on youtube; plenty of 3 strand onto chain, though)

3) If your setup is the same as mine, check the splice thoroughly as it is almost certainly the weakest link of the gear and will take a lot of abuse as it goes through a windlass.
Click to expand...
Not a video, but instructions are here Anchorplait Splicing Instructions - Jimmy Green Marine

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I used a back splice onto 3-strand. 2 strands one way through the chain, the third strand "in reverse". That's what the windlass maker recommended.
 
I've used the Jimmy Green splice in Plum's post since I've had the boat. Done right, it shouldn't be significantly thicker than the chain itself because the rope strands go into the spaces in the chain. I noticed that one of the links in the splice is sideways, so I'd guess that's why it jammed.

The disadvantage is that you've got a section of chain in permanent contact with rope soaked in salty water, so that bit corrodes eventually, but it took 10 years or more before it became an issue for me.
 
Irony Splice. Much smoother over the gypsy. No lump from the splice.

It is a little harder to learn, but very smooth in use. Irony Splice.

Irony%2BSplice%2Bcropped.jpg


If I'm hauling by hand, an ordinary back splices is easier.
 
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