We have chain/rope ground tackle. I don't really like rope/chain splices. What do others use? I have an "anchor shackle" but need a narrower one to easily pass thro the windlass deck plate. Suggestions please.
Out of interest what upsets you about rope/chain splices?
I've used them for yonks and other than the thickening aorund the join seem a perfectly reasonable (and simple enough for peeps like me to make them!) solution.
I suppose the answer is that the spliced rope takes a lot of wear and it can't be quickly disconnected from the chain without using a knife. On the other hand it will easily pass thro the deck plate. Would still prefer to eye splice onto an appropriate shackle which will pass round the gypsy.
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I suppose the answer is that the spliced rope takes a lot of wear and it can't be quickly disconnected from the chain without using a knife. On the other hand it will easily pass thro the deck plate. Would still prefer to eye splice onto an appropriate shackle which will pass round the gypsy.
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Surely, the word 'quickly' implies that a knife is the quickest way. A serrated rescue/safety knife will go through most ropes like a hot knife through butter.
Having bought my current rode ready spliced this is what I have but the worry goes like this. With a rope splice (with a thimble eye and shackle) as I used to have, one effect of strain is to close the lay of the rope tightly around the tucked strands to increase the strength of the splice - or so I imagine. The unyielding chain cannot add a similar co-operative effect.
I hope that I shall never explore the ultimate extreme of the strength of my gear but is this a real concern or just a fallacy?
Rope construction relies on friction ... whether it be the lay-up, splice or knot.
The act of splicing to chain - the sheer length of the splice .... much longer than a "tucked" splice produces enough friction between the chain links and rope strands.
I have a rope to chain splice ... been there for many years ... in fact it will fail not due to lack of friction .... if I was to leave it long enough !! .... but due to corrosion ! A post a while ago commented on corrosion evident in such splices ... most likely due to entrapment of salts etc. and held against the galvanized metal etc. along with a nice amount of oxygen available to help it along ....
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The act of splicing to chain - the sheer length of the splice .... much longer than a "tucked" splice produces enough friction between the chain links and rope strands.
[/ QUOTE ] Agreed. And the easy run of the splice through the winch was a great advantage.
Chafe was the only issue that worried me. But with 70m of chain, that wasn't a threat that an annual inspection couldn't deal with. I ended up re-splicing every three years - more for my peace of mind than any logic. The splice always looked a little floppy . . .
It would be interesting to test a rope chain splice to destruction to see if the rope pulled out of the chain. I suspect a lot of splices rarely go in the water due to the length of the chain. But on a weight conscious multi we will use all the chain most times, with the added advantage of an automatic rope snubber.
I have used one on a lightweight kedge and noted the corrosion.
My splice could take the maximum tension I could apply with the genoa winch without any sign of slipping. No idea what that was (40.5ft LOA) but it had to be a few thousand pounds force, probably enough to drag the anchor!