Rope splicing

I

imeche

Active Member
Joined
8 Dec 2005
Messages
63
Location
Fife
Visit site
I'm thinking about learning to splice my mooring and anchor lines, so I have a few questions:

If you splice your own lines, how confident are you in the holding power?

Do you recommend own spliced lines?

What is the best way to learn splicing?

Again, your comments are appreciated.
 
YES and
YES
I bought a book .. but you can do Google search and find out how to do it.
On of the joys of splicing is that you are connecting yourself with hundreds of years of naval history. I find that rather comforting.
 
Jimmy Green Marine can supply all the fids and other splicing tools you may require. They also have some very good splicing guides for Octoplait, Double Braid and three strand ropes. Marlow Ropes also have some good downloadable splicing guides with good pictures.

I really enjoyed learning how to splice and have confidence in the end result without considering myself an expert. Very satisfying way to spend a rainy Easter instead of getting wet on the boat. ;-)
Morgan
 
Get someone to shpw you a couple of basic splices - a back splice and an eye-splice. Failing that get a book on knots and splices. It's very easy to do these basic splices - they look neat and orderly when done correctly, if not correct they will look mis-shapen. When you've done one or two correctly you will have answered your first two questions.
 
I was given a couple of oldish Admiralty Manual of Seamanship books many years ago. I have to say that the section on how to make a modified Liverpool salvage splice in a wire hawser should come in handy if I ever need to tow a battleship of a sandbank. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I suspect I ought to buy a little book of knots and splices as well, but there are some useful websites if you google rope splicing. I still think I ought to get a book though..I can feel some new halyards coming on this season, and it would be nice to do them 'proper' myself....assuming I have the brains and the patience to persist.

Tim
 
If youre just learning, practice before you do your mooring ropes and if possable, show your practice spice to someone you know can 'properly' splice first.

If your really keen, the best book (i've found) is 'the splicing handbook' by Barbara Merry (ISBN 0713658010) and costs about £10-. It has everything to do with splicing!
 
1. Very
2. Yes
3. Get a book or a web page and a lump of rope and play until you get it right. It's what I did.

With the eye splice, if you get the first tuck with the last stand right, it'll go like clockwork afterwards and look neat. If it doesn't, you've probably got it wrong, so need to start again.

Also, make sure your bight lays flat. I didn't on a couple of lines, so I have to untwist the eye before dropping it over a cleat, which doesn't help if you're in a hurry!
 
When I was a budding trawlerman a good few years ago I was taught to splice wire by one of the old boys who had been around the harbour longer than anyone could remember... cost me 2 bottles of Becks beer!

W.
 
Go to your local libary and get ASHLEYS BOOK of KNOTS, find enery knot known and splices, IMHO stick to three strand rope, gain confidence then do your proper ropes, very satisfyiing. Like riding a bike, once learned never forgotten.
 
Only thing to add is that when you come to try splicing braided rope do not be tempted to start with an old piece you have lying around - the braid will have become far too tight. Use a new, unused rope instead.

Alan
 
For 3 strand rope splicings easy, just get a book and follow the instructions. I used to teach Scouts to splice rope (25 years). You don't need any fancy Fids etc.

For braided rope, you will need Fids. However weigh up the cost of the fids against paying someone else to do the splicing, unless you really want to learn how splice braided rope yourself.

There is, hoever, the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
 
Very satisfying indeed, as others have said. Given the instructions, once you have manged to get them done and they look good, thay are likely to BE good too.

I always find it sort of magical that you can achieve such strength by mere friction between strands that are essentially just threaded... amazing. But I reckon it is much easier to get a knot wrong than to make a splice that will unravel.
 
I've had a play last year - it's great fun and useful at the same time. Mine looks like it's been savaged by a rabid badger, but it holds really well - I pull my dinghies in and out with a rope spliced onto the trolley (beach launching). I'd love to find someone to teach me properly, but I'm landbound at the moment. Give it a try, it's fun & satisfying and yu can always undo it and start again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top