Splices...how hard is this going to be?

Greenheart

Greenheart

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I'm hoping to connect two braid-on-braid ropes, of slightly differing diameters (12mm and 14mm).

All the splice videos I've found on Youtube so far, were either splicing an eye into braided rope, or joining two pieces of 3-strand line...

...nothing (yet) on joining two braided lines, let alone if they're not the same diameter.

It needn't be a slick job but it has to be tidy, and narrower than a knot.

I don't want to shell out on a splicing kit, even if I'll do a 3rd-rate job without the right gear.

Anybody know of a link to a video or page where such tasks are detailed?

Thanks!
 
 
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Woodlouse said:
Because splicing two braided ropes together is not something that is often done, particularly two of different sizes.
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Ah. That'll be why I can't find any vids.

I have two not-very-long pieces of braid-on-braid, I want to join as an anchor warp. I know they're not meant for that, but I refuse to have 50ft of 3-strand twisting & knotting on the cockpit floor. I already have six meters of chain...might get interesting, joining braided line to chain...but I'd like to avoid a ruddy great knot halfway down the warp.
 
Thanks, Old Salt. Interesting little film - and a very neat job - although it looked to me as if the line's original strength will have been greatly reduced, as the finished job appears to rely mainly on the outer braid.
 
dancrane said:
Ah. That'll be why I can't find any vids.

I have two not-very-long pieces of braid-on-braid, I want to join as an anchor warp. I know they're not meant for that, but I refuse to have 50ft of 3-strand twisting & knotting on the cockpit floor. I already have six meters of chain...might get interesting, joining braided line to chain...but I'd like to avoid a ruddy great knot halfway down the warp.
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I would not sleep well on two lengths of braid spliced together in the way you suggest.
Two eye splices, one fed through the other in the form of a reef knot, that's a different matter! ;)
 
dancrane said:
Ah. That'll be why I can't find any vids.

I have two not-very-long pieces of braid-on-braid, I want to join as an anchor warp. I know they're not meant for that, but I refuse to have 50ft of 3-strand twisting & knotting on the cockpit floor. I already have six meters of chain...might get interesting, joining braided line to chain...but I'd like to avoid a ruddy great knot halfway down the warp.
Click to expand...

I'd probably just tie them together and whip the ends. It would probably be stronger than a splice, especially one done without tools. I've got to say though that 50 foot of braid on braid is just as likely to twist and knot on the cockpit floor as three strand.
 
dancrane said:
Thanks, Old Salt. Interesting little film - and a very neat job - although it looked to me as if the line's original strength will have been greatly reduced, as the finished job appears to rely mainly on the outer braid.
Click to expand...

I think they state that the splice will lack strength. Perhaps the splice could be supported by adding some whipping to bind/bond the outer to the inner.
 
I just tried a very simple knot joining both ends, and I reckon I can live with the lump. Certainly it'll take up less of the remaining weeks of this season, than learning how to splice!

I like the braided line because it easily makes a few layers of concentric circles which stow small and neat, and it runs out without any kinks. I have a real aversion to 3-strand.
 
It's quite difficult to splice old braid-on-braid, so the idea of splicing two old bits of rope to make a new one is not as good as it sounds.

Pete
 
dancrane said:
I have a real aversion to 3-strand.
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I realise that you want to reuse the rope you have, but your best bet for anchor warp is to get a single length of Octoplait and slice that into the chain. Easy to handle and does not kink & twist like 3 strand.
 
It is difficult enough to splice old braid on braid with Swedish fids. Nearly impossible without. As someone has said, any splice reduces the strength of the rope and an inline is quite weak - not suitable for carrying much load and deffo not anchoring. End to end stitching is ok for extending a halyard though. You'd have trouble milking the smaller cover over the larger with different sizes.
 
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Splicing is a good skill to have and not hard to learn. 3 strand is easy but braid on braid more difficult and needs a set of fids - screwdrivers won't work IMO.
 
dancrane said:
Thanks, Old Salt. Interesting little film - and a very neat job - although it looked to me as if the line's original strength will have been greatly reduced, as the finished job appears to rely mainly on the outer braid.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately all braid splices end up relying entirely on the outer.
Whilst I too am a skinflint, I'd recommend buying entirely new octoplait for your anchor line. Nylon is stronger and has more elasticity. I use 10mm on my kedges (25m of 7mm chain and 50m of 10mm octoplait) and have hung on a 6kg Danforth for 3 days in Bf 5-7 meltemi. Boat is 31' and about 4 tonnes in cruise mode.
I'd certainly NOT trust life and boat to a botched join of a wrongly-specified rope.
 
Thank you gentlemen. I do intend to learn to splice...although I can see that it isn't ideal for an anchor warp.

Re-reading your comments, I think you might all have been in the room last night, watching me planning my anchor line.

Octoplait was my first preference, but my nearest Force 4 doesn't stock 8mm, and it'd be the better part of £40 for 15 meters, delivered, who knows when.

When I found 7 meters each of hardly-used 12mm and 14mm braid-on-braid in my cupboard, I decided I'd rather save the money and time, and make use of it.

I dare to think anchoring a big dinghy in light conditions, isn't likely to destroy some hefty unused mainsheet, especially with 20ft of 6mm chain at the end.

I can live with the knot, somewhere in the middle...the warp'll still fit in the bottom of a small bucket for anchor & rode...

20140814_105257_zpsfa6e2164.jpg


...so, anybody know how to splice braid-on-braid onto chain? :rolleyes: :hopeless:
 
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