![]() ![]() I generally secure the thimble in position with a wrap of tape on each leg. If you are doing an anchor line, make the loop tightly around the thimble. The splice begins at the wrap of tape on the rope, so this marks the closing point of the eye. Now untwist the other two strands.įorm a loop in the rope the size you want the eye. Tape the rope tightly just below where this "loose" strand joins the others. ![]() Pick one strand - it doesn't matter which - and unwind it, making eight revolutions around the other two. Untape the rope and tightly tape the ends of the three individual strands. Put a couple of wraps of masking tape around one end of the rope and slice through it with a sharp knife to cut off the melted end. To make a splice, you need to unravel a short length of one end, but you do not want the individual strands to unravel. A bowline, for example, reduces the breaking strength of a line by about 40% while a splice retains 95% of the rope's strength.Ĭut rope will have been sealed with a hot knife to prevent the ends from unraveling. A knot is a poor substitute for a proper splice. When the "business end" of an anchor line begins to show the effects of rubbing on the bow chocks and across the bottom, you can extend its life by reversing it end-for-end - yet another reason for knowing how to make an eye splice. The thimble protects the line from chafe. Twelve inches is a good eye size for transient dock lines, making it easy to pull the line through the eye to form a loop.Īnchor lines also require an eye splice, in this case around a metal thimble so the line can be shackled to the chain lead on the anchor. This is so you can adjust the lie of the boat from on board. For transient dock lines you carry aboard, the eye is in the shore end. The dock lines for your home slip should have an eye in the boat end of the line just large enough to fit over the horns of the boat's mooring cleats. A splice you put in yourself will be just as strong as one done by a professional rigger, and splicing an eye into three-strand rope is really very easy.Īll dock lines should have an eye splice in one end. Putting in your own eye splice can be a better option. It also forces you to buy your line in one of the available lengths. Note: These guidelines are no longer actively reviewed on a 5-year basis.Today you can buy dock lines and anchor lines with an eye already spliced into one end, but this is more expensive than buying the same line off a spool. It is best practice to consult with the rope manufacturers for recommended splice procedures.īelow is a list of instructions from rope manufacturers for different types of splices, as well as four generic eye splice guidelines. ![]() However, there are variations of every type of eye splice which can be just as efficient. A splice is always preferable to a knot, which can reduce rope strength approximately 50%.Īn eye splice provides maximum strength retention for fiber ropes and should yield the Minimum Breaking Strength as given in Cordage Institute Standards when performed properly on new rope. It is used to attach rope to cleats, bollards, hooks etc., or to install a proper thimble to be used with a multitude of applications. The eye splice is the most efficient way to install a loop on the end of a rope. ![]()
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