Hard eye splice in 8 strand rope ?

Boo2

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Hi,

Anyone got a link to a video or picture sequence of how to perform a hard eye splice in 8-strand rope ? (Not interested in seeing the equivalent for 3-strand or braided btw.)

Thanks,

Boo2
 
Thanks, cany anyone tell me whether a hard eye splice is done the same way only with the addition of the thimble ? How do you ensure the splice is tight to the thimble when it is complete ?

Boo2
Same way, insert thimble with first tucks, same as doing a three strand with thimble.
the trick is to get the size right. First section in the pdf.
 
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Must admit to having had only limited success with three strand in getting the eye really tight around the thimble. No real difference if you're using a different rope. The situation can nearly always be salvaged by whipping the "neck" of the eye splice tight against the thimble. I have a friend who made an hard eye in the anchor rode - the thimble fell out! After whipping, the rode has served well - whipping every couple of years.

Rob.
 
It shouldn't be difficult to splice a thimble in three strand or octoplait, procedure is the same for both types.

The thimble must have a good fit not to large and not to small.
Measure the length needed to do the splice, tape the rope to mark how far to open the strands and keep the rest of the rope intact.
Unravel the strands according to splicing instructions.
Put the thimble in place, making sure to align the tape with the throat of the thimble, try to get a clean transition to where the first tucks are going.
If you use a normal thimble you can take it out after marking where the first tucks go.
Do the first round of tucks, put thimble back (if removed) and tighten all tucks carefully and check that you have a nice snug fit (else redo).
Then continue with the tucks, after each round tighten all strand without pulling to much (that will distort the rope).
Complete the splice according to the instructions.

As extra security you can add a whipping around the thimble and rope to keep it in place.
Captive thimble is also an option If room allows and you can find a suitable one.

Another option is to put a whipping at the throat of the splice to make the eye smaller (this will not be so prone to chaff a one going around thimble and rope. This is more commonly used on double braid where it is somewhat more difficult to make a snug fit around the thimble.
 
When measuring the length of rope that is needed for the eye go round the bottom of the thimble but stop short of the actual throat, i.e., the length needs to be shorter than the length around the inside of the thimble, usually by a diameter (but slightly more if the lay is loose). This allows for any stretching and the consequent loosening of the thimble through use. Don't forget to put a quarter turn to each strand as it is being tucked and drawn through the splice.

P.S. Not trying to teach the art of sucking eggs of course! ;)
 
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If for some reason the finished eye is to large to keep the thimble captive, a whipping at the throat like in this picture can be used.
Found this pic on the web :)
ThimbleEyeSplice.jpg
 
If it is for an anchor snubber for example, it becomes important that the thimble does not come free to rotate, in which case it might cut through the rope.
On mine, after having made the first couple of passes with the strands, I strongly tied a knot with a second rope where the strands exited the rope, then attached this to a cleat, while pulling the thimble with a rope to a winch --> the purpose is to elongate at maximum the piece of 8-strand around the thimble, and subsequently absorbing this elongation by threading the strands more in depth.
Sorry a horrific description I suppose, anyway after having done mine, I pulled the finished splice with a winch and the thimble was very firmly stuck inside the rope, a good result imho.
 
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