SPLICES & SPLICING: SPLICES & SPLICING: Splicing, like Splicing, like

knotting, requires manual dexterity and practice. With small knotting, requires manual dexterity and practice. With small and/or moderate sizes of three-strand line you can make splices and/or moderate sizes of three-strand line you can make splices without tools, although a knife, tape, and a fid are extremely without tools, although a knife, tape, and a fid are extremely helpful. If you are splicing heavier rope or braided line, a helpful. If you are splicing heavier rope or braided line, a marlinspike or a special fid for braided line is necessary. marlinspike or a special fid for braided line is necessary.

Natural Fiber “Manilla”

Synthetic Fiber “Nylon”

Strand

Yarns

Fibers

Cotton

Manila

Polypropylene

Nylon

Dacron

Examples of Right-Hand Laidor Stranded Rope.

Examples of Rope Constructions

Hollow Braid

Stranded

Double Braid

Diamond Braid

Natural fiber ropes must have a minimumof three complete tucks to be consideredcomplete.Synthetic fiber rope must have a minimumof five complete tucks.A tuck consists of all three splicing strandspassing under the three strands of the splicedsection.If tapering a splice begin the taper afterthe minimum number of tucks. Hollow braid splices must have the opposingcore tucked in a minimum of eight inches,with a whipping applied.A whipping is not required on stranded ropesplices. Fibers

Yarns

Strand

Hollow Braid Splicing ToolsHollow Braid Splicing Tools

Hollow BraidSplicing Fids

WhippingTwine

Appropriate Sized Knife

3/8”

5/16” ¼”3/16”

Double-Braid Splicing ToolsDouble-Braid Splicing Tools

AppropriateSized Knife

Whipping Twine

Sail Needle

Marker

Tape

3/8”

¼”

5/16”

Specialized Double-BraidSplicing Fids

Required Splices: Required Splices: Testing PurposesTesting Purposes

Stranded Ropes: 3-Strand Natural and Synthetic Fiber– Eye Splice (With or without a thimble inserted)

– Short Splice (With or without tapers) – Back Splice

Hollow Braid Ropes: Polypropylene and Polyethylene– Eye Splice (With or without a thimble inserted)– End-to-End Splice (Two ropes together)– Back Splice

Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information Fisherman’s Workbook, Prado, J. Handbook for Riggers, Newberry, W.G. Knots, Perry, Gordon Modern Rope Seamanship, Jarman, Colin & Beavis, Bill Piloting – Seamanship & Small Boat Handling, Chapman, Charles Pocket Handbook of Knots and Splices, Wall Industries The Ashley Book of Knots, Ashley,Clifford The Splicing Handbook: Techniques for Modern and Traditional

Ropes, 2nd. Ed., Darwin, John & Merry, Barbara

Books:

Electronic Media: http://www.realknots.com http://www.samsonrope.com http://www.fid-o.com/techniques.htm