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A rigging master shares his techniques for creating a strong, low-profile splice that feeds smoothly through a windlass
Difficulty
- Moderate
Materials
- Eight-plait rope
- Anchor chain
- Whipping twine
- Electrical tape
Tools
- Fid length splicing gauge/ruler
- 1⁄4-inch picker fid
- Ceramic knife or microserrated scissors
- Hot knife (or a lighter)
Time
- 1 hour
Cost
- Around $2.80 per foot of 5⁄8-inch nylon eight-plait rope, plus tools & other materials as needed
Though there are several ways to splice this eight-plait rope, the method shown here makes the smoothest, lowest-profile transition from rope to chain. Most commonly made of nylon, this rope has a nice stretch for anchor rodes; it’s also made of polyester in the larger sizes. Another advantage that it has over three-strand rope is that it stows more compactly in the locker and doesn’t get so stiff as it ages.
This splice requires the chain to be sized in proportion to the rope. If all the strands fit comfortably through the last link, this splice will run easily through a windlass.
1. Begin by tying a stopper using some whipping twine to constrict the line from unraveling too far. Tie this stopper about eight or so “picks” (twists of the rope) back from the tail end.
2. Tape each of the strands, unravel them back to your stopper, and put them in pairs.
3. Half the rope (two-strand pairs) will be pushed through the last chain link from one side.
4. The other two pairs will be pushed through from the opposite direction.
5. Snug them gently, then dive under one standing pair with a fid, as shown.
6. Take the next strand pair, get it under the adjacent standing pair, and snug it up.
7. Now separate the strand pair and go over-one-under-one with one, and under-one-over-one with the other. In summary, the first tuck is both strands under both standing strands. Then, after that, each strand will follow its own pattern. It’s easier than it sounds. Follow the illustration.
8. After you’ve done the same with all of them for three or four tucks, leave one strand from each pair behind and carry on with the other. This will form a nice taper.
9. A few tucks later, you can trim the tails.
10. There it is: strong, lissome, and ready for use.
Tip
A New Splicing Book For Modern Ropes
A former technical climber, Ben Zartman has used his extensive mountaineering and seafaring experience to master the use of today’s modern rope materials, such as Dyneema, and has shared his techniques in his new book “Modern Splicing Handbook,” available now on his website (zartmancruising.com). The book teaches splicing techniques for eight- and 12-plait, three strand, double braid, Dyneema, Technora, polyester, and more. Ben’s website also offers the simple tools and materials you’ll need to create your own safe, strong splices.
After sailing a home-built sailboat from California to Newfoundland, Ben, his wife, Danielle, and their three daughters settled in Rhode Island, where Ben runs his own rigging business, teaches splicing and ropework at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, and supplies rigging tools and materials on his webstore. One of his daughters, Antigone Zartman, illustrated the splicing techniques in the book.