anybody splice their own lines?

alk

alk

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now that one of my rides is a sailboat, figured it was time I started splicing my own lines. There are too many I need to replace to be paying for eye splices, reeving eyes, etc. Watched a bunch of youtubes, bought a few tools and some rope, and went to work. These guys on youtube slice the end of the rope off, and it doesn't unravel at all - then they stuff it right inside the fid tool. Did a couple last night, got them done eventually, but holy cow it was not nearly as smooth as it should have been. And that was with an oversized fid.

anybody have an experience splicing double braid polyester, and have any tricks to make this less painful? thanks
 
I have, just for fun more than anything - I bought some braded line and made a whole set of lines for my boat and a few specialty ones for special uses. I bought a good set of fids and watched this video - a lot. Use the trailer hitch on my wife's SUV for the final pull to get the splice tight - she was not amused. The fella that is in the video - Andy - I believe died, but I think it would have been great to spend a day watching him work. I don't have any tricks past what is in the video - I did learn that trimming out the braids in the end of the rope is very important, otherwise it bunches up and the "cover" won't go back inside the braid, it just bunches up. Also, get a sharpie and be precise on marking the line, don't guess on that.

 
I have done a number of them. I would watch several videos by different authors. The one thing I found helpful was using a hammer or other long handle inserted through the new eye as a handle to pull on the line when finishing up. It certainly provided some advantage as I could grab the handle on both sides of the eye and snap the line stoutly to pull the rest of the core in. Make sure the anchor post for the line is secure as the more you can snap or pull on the line the smoother things get. As I recall I tapered the core going back in as well. In other words, cut a couple short, then midway then later etc..
My tow bridle held up from Fort Myers to Elbow Cay, and then Great Exuma and back.
 

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Splices countless lines. Masking tape is your friend. Make sure you’re pushing the fid, not pulling it. And don’t get tempted to cheat your marks and measurements, except when you tie the overhand to lock the core and cover together. You can get away with a few extra fid lengths there, and it will make your life easier. A mallet is your friend when you get to the point of burying the crossover, too.
 
Oh, and use the Samson directions. Ignore the directions for used rope - it’s a BS method in my experienced opinion. Used line SUCKS to splice. Don’t bother unless necessary. Once it takes its set, it’s not at all easy to splice properly.

And don’t cut corners on the tapers unless you enjoy frustration. Proper taper, especially in polyester, makes things go much easier.
 
Getting the cover into the fid, to pass it back through is where I was struggling. Apparently it is easier with stainless fids, as opposed to the aluminum ones I have - but seems like if I tape the end, it’s too big to fit, and if I don’t tape it, massive unravel before I get it in. I was working on reeving eyes last night, for the halyard ends, so the entire cover ( no tapering) had to go back through. But with the core out, you would think it would drop right in. Not for me!

Yes, new ropes. I bought about half samson , and half New England ropes.

could probably buy a decent Chevy small block for a powerboat with what I’ve spent on lines so far - probably about 500ft so far, and a bunch more to go.
 
Aluminum fids are just fine. On most stuff the Samson aluminum fids are my go-to’s. Smaller stuff and ‘slicker’ synthetics like Plasma I have a really nice set of custom stainless fids that are kind of a Swedish/Selma/Samson hybrid. Closed point that transitions to open channel like a Swedish fid, but instead of a knob on the end it curves in again and has a barb in it. Metalworker that I made up some high quality, very custom rigging for made them for me.
 
We used wooden fids back in the 70's when I worked the tow boats. One old cajun cap'n even insisted we splice eyes in the cables, too. That was fun..
 
Little of both.

25 years ago I took sailing lessons, and intended my first boat to be a sailboat. But it didnt make any sense - as I was getting a boat to use in my summer rental, which consisted of a dozen of my friends looking to have fun at the beach. and then as the years went by, taking kids boating, couldn’t imagine anything more painful than cruising around at 4 knots all day! Still have the bow rider I bought new in 1999 ( before i even met my wife!) and a half dozen other powerboats from 26-40 feet have come and gone over the years.

but I have been thinking about giving sailing a try for something new for the last few years. Now that my older kids have drivers licenses and their own friends, and don’t spend all week looking forward to going boating, tubing, skiing and to the beach - figured now would be a good time for a change up. actually had an offer on a 44’ Hatteras motoryacht
that didn’t work out, when I saw an abandoned sailboat that seemed to have some potential. Staring down at a winter of covid “lockdowns” with nothing else to do, figured I would give it a try.
 
I have always spliced my own 3 strand dock lines and anchor lines. Learned it in scouts and you never forget.
I don't try braided at all because the local marine shop does them to order at a couple of bucks per splice plus the
footage of rope I buy.
 
I’ve done eye splices in the three strand, that’s pretty straightforward.

But for the braided, defender has best prices I could find on the line, don’t even know of anywhere local that sells it. They do rigging, but charge twenty bucks per eye. I need at least ten, probably more.
 
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