Page 117 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

To finish this part of the splice, roll it under- and two go up and down through the links in the
foot to fair it, then whip or Constrictor over all other plane. For maximum strength, adjust all the
exposed ends rope yarns as you go, so they all bear an even strain.
Almost done now. Go back to the link and that Each pair is tucked six or seven times, then the ends
lone, uncommitted strand. Tuck it under itself, of all four bundles are very securely seized to the
against the lay (Figure 4-8E). Pull this first tuck chain (Figure 4-9B). Although this splice is easy to
snug, but not so much as to distort (i.e., weaken) the do, it is much weaker than any other spliced option.
rope. Tuck another four or five times (Figure 4-8F), Also, if the rope ever touches the bottom, this splice
roll to fair, whip and cut (Figure 4-8G). brings up such prodigious amounts of mud that
Many people wonder how this splice can be a friend of mine calls it the “Shovel Splice.” I’m
strong enough when only two strands pass through including it here because it is the only way to splice
the chain. But the load is split four ways, like a line double-braid to chain: you put a seizing on the
going through a two-sheave block. The link radius cover; separate core and cover into four bundles;
is small, but both strands bear fully on it. That’s and splice away. However single-braid and three-
why this splice, done well, is the strongest of all strand rope are stretchier, absorb energy better, and
chain splices. are cheaper, so either of those constructions is bet-
ter for rodes.
The Shovel Splice Figure 4-9A shows another
method: separating the rope into four equal bun- Figure 4-9A. The Shovel Splice—Part 1. It is weak,
dles and weaving the bundles into the chain. This but will work when splicing three-strand rope to chain.
is particularly suited to double-braid rope, which But with three-strand a Crown or Irony splice is much
cannot otherwise be spliced directly to chain. (For better, and with double-braid, if you must use it for
basic procedures on working with double-braid, your rode, you can get a much stronger connection by
see “Braided Rope Splices,” below.) Two bundles putting an Eyesplice in the rope, then connecting that
go back and forth through the links in one plane, to the chain with an Improved Soft Shackle. To make

the Shovel Splice, apply a Double Constrictor or other
seizing about 2 ⁄2 feet from the end of the rope, then
1
separate the three strands (or double-braid core and
cover) into four equal bundles of yarns. Weave two
bundles back and forth through every other link, and
the other two bundles through the intervening links,
endeavoring to pull all yarns evenly tight as you go.
Don’t pull so tight that you put slack in the chain (A).

Figure 4-9B. The Shovel Splice—Part 2. Tuck each
bundle of yarns six or seven times, double the ends
back on themselves, and seize thoroughly. It ain’t ele-
gant, or strong, but is worth including here, if only as
an emergency method. (B).

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