SpliceRight Hints

There are so many good splicing sites on the net, take a look at Animated Knots for instance.  How can this page really compete?  We won’t try very hard on the general approach, just point you to a few web sites perhaps and you can further your study.  However, some notes may be of value, especially when splicing plaited spectra and dyneema with our new tools. If the core threads are really fine, wrap a turn of PVC tape around the hinge of the tools to prevent snagging of threads that may be too fine to see.

Eye splices in Braid

On another page we have given you instructions on splicing braid eyes, but they can be more trouble that they are worth. Do not spend $200 on a new halyard rope and then learn how to splice it. By the time you have it right, it will be much too short! A core splice is nearly as strong; simply pull a splicing length of core from out of the braid, then trim off the braid and pull it back, exposing more core.  Splice as detailed on our eye splice page, pull the braid back over the splice and whip it. If you really want to be a braid splicing masochist, check out: Swinginonastar , it is a lot easier than this really, commonsense and practice. Sheets might be better core spliced and the toggle tack attachment is excellent, allowing sheeting positions to be marked.  Halyards on Keel boats should be left unspliced, bowlines are great.  Splice thickenings can jam in the Mast head sheeves, causing many problems.  Halyards should start overlength. Every few months they should be trimmed with the hotknife and shorted to avoid mast head and clutch wear.

Cutting Spectra Halyards

When cutting spectra halyards with the hotknife after trimming to length, cut vertically into the rope when the knife is super hot to a distance of 10mm perhaps.  Then immediately squeeze the two hot ends together.  They will melt into one with the core and avoid fraying later.  HINT…Lick and wet your fingers before squeezing! You can still finish with a whipping just to be perfect. Look after your hotknife.  The warning on a Bic lighter should be taken to heart. ‘Do not store above 45c, keep out of direct sunlight’ etc. Return it to the bag after use.  If you are cutting and spllicing for a while, then the gas can be turned way down, past the detent.  It will then smolder on ‘cruise control’  for hours, but the warm up is only 15 secs and no lighter is required.