Splicing Nuts

Bluenose · Post by **Bluenose** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:10 pm

Does anyone have any experience with these?

I had never seem them before and I stumbled on to their website by accident while I was looking for some splicing supplies.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:24 pm

My slip neighbor uses them. I'm skeptical, however. My own splices are at least as strong, if not stronger and look a lot sleeker than these. Plus, I have something to do during the week when I'm watching TV. Splicing doesn't intimidate me like it used to-- before I started doing it enough to get some practice!

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:04 pm

Not I, but then I don't splice either- I tie my halyards to the shackles using a Buntline Hitch. That way when the halyard wears a bit I can cut off 6 inches and retie. Plus the hitch stops the halyard from jamming in the sheaves.

Al · Post by Al » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:36 pm

I wrote an article about them for the May/June 2006 issue of Good Old Boat. I also used one as part of a Cunningham. They're about as strong as a bowline and, depending on your taste, perhaps a bit neater. Tim doesn't like them.

Post by **Tim** » Thu May 01, 2008 6:41 am

I think if I'd wanted to comment here I probably would have.

Al · Post by Al » Thu May 01, 2008 10:08 am

I saved you the trouble.

Bluenose · Post by **Bluenose** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:36 pm

I have been planning all along to splice and whip my own lines but I was just a bit curious when I stumble across these. Actually todays clouds and rain will be just the ticket to get me to order my line and dust off my splicing kit and "refresh" my memory. I always seem to dread the first couple splices but then I get the hang of it.

suntreader · Post by **suntreader** » Sun May 04, 2008 4:53 pm

I had only spliced three-strand before. I had to put together some new sheets and halyards for the Flying Scot and needed to splice double braid in 1/4" and 5/16".

I used this guy's "professional" method:

http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/pro_splice.html

First one took some work but the second one took only a few minutes and then I was trying to find more splices to make!

The only concern I have is that one leg of the splice only has the cover, no core. In basic double braid polyester the core and the cover each take half the load. In an eye splice each leg takes half the load so having only half the strength on one leg means the splice is only as strong as the line (or somewhat less because of bends and damage to the strands from the splice.) The line has a SWL of something like a thousand pounds and its just used as halyards and sheets on a 19' boat so I'm not worried about the ultimate strength of the splice. The only tools were a role of tape, knife, a piece of stiff wire cut off a tomato cage, and a clamp.

Are people so averse to knots, bends, hitches, and splices that that they really buy those little plastic doo-hickies in the marine catalogs? Seriously any of those methods cost nothing, look good, are well proven, and won't knock you out if a flogging sheet hits your head. Just make the splice it will make you feel like a real sailor.

Dave

Bluenose · Post by **Bluenose** » Sun May 04, 2008 6:12 pm

Are people so averse to knots, bends, hitches, and splices that that they really buy those little plastic doo-hickies in the marine catalogs? Seriously any of those methods cost nothing, look good, are well proven, and won't knock you out if a flogging sheet hits your head. Just make the splice it will make you feel like a real sailor.

I image the answer to your question must be yes or there wouldn't be any market. I completely agree with you view on splicing. I get a satisfied feeling when I see the splices that I made for my boat. That said, I feel that there are some advantage to a fairly streamlined mechanical splice. The first is that as the line near the splice wears out it would be quite easy to cut the line and redo the mechanical fitting. It can be very tough to re-splice old line. I also feel that knots can, in some uses, be a bit bulky and interfere with running lines. Anyway that is why this application piqued my curiosity. Although "knot" enough to change my methods.

Post by **Tim** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:14 am

Bluenose wrote:
Are people so averse to knots, bends, hitches, and splices that that they really buy those little plastic doo-hickies in the marine catalogs?
I image the answer to your question must be yes or there wouldn't be any market.

Just because someone invents a product doesn't mean there's a market for it, per se. It does mean someone thought they had a better way and convinced someone to make it (or set that up themselves), but how many "trick" inventions really make it in the end?

Inventions to satisfy humans' inherent laziness will continue to abound, and people will continue to buy them. The late night infomercials ought to support that notion.

Al · Post by Al » Mon May 05, 2008 10:30 am

Actually, it was originally invented so GI's could tie down their tents in the field. Apparenlty we don't teach GI's to tie knots.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Mon May 05, 2008 10:33 am

As an ex-marine friend of mine is fond of repeating:

If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:23 pm

Al wrote:Actually, it was originally invented so GI's could tie down their tents in the field.

Oh boy, one more piece to keep track of when you're trying to get a tent set up, probably in the dark or rain...