Page 121 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Return once more to the original marriage site
and undo the Constrictor Knot. Make any adjust-
ments necessary for a fair lead (twisting, untwisting,
tightening, slacking). Reknot and splice, splitting
the strands first if you prefer. Wash the gel out, and
you’re done (Figure 4-12E). In an emergency, I’d be
inclined to do an eye-to-eye splice or a Short Splice
if that part of the line didn’t have to get through a
sheave or stopper.

BRAIDED ROPE SPLICES

As with basic knots, splices have undergone evo-
lutionary changes in this century due to stronger,
slicker materials, and more concentrated rig loads.
But whereas contemporary knots are for the most
part evolved from old knots, the introduction of
single- and double-braided ropes has necessitated
the from-scratch invention of splices completely dif-
Figure 4-12D–E. Now return to the other four ends. ferent from any previous ones. Therefore, splicing
Cut away the Constrictor and tie two ends together today involves upgraded traditional skills for three-
while you lay the other two out and in (in the opposite strand, and a whole new vocabulary for braid.
direction from the first pair). Split and tuck as before. Many a sailor’s response is to say, “Forget that
Then untie, adjust, fair, retie, split, and tuck the mid- braided stuff. I’ll stick to something I can under-
dle pair right there at the original marriage site (D). A stand.” Others say, “I don’t understand braid, but
finished Long Splice. Leave all ends a half-inch or so I can hire somebody to splice it.” These are legiti-
“proud,” or whip over all junctures and cut the ends mate attitudes, but I believe that most people stay
flush (E). away from splicing the braid, and particularly dou-

ble-braid, because of horrible instructions and, to
With that right-hand strand neatly in the some extent, awkward tools.
groove, seize or Constrictor together the four strands Braid is well worth dealing with when low
that are still married. This part is easier with an stretch and high strength are important. An extra
assistant. benefit is that it isn’t as weakened by going over a
Leaving the married strands for the moment, small radius as three-strand is; the fibers on braid
go back to the two working strands and lay them can flatten out more, for better bearing. Why is this
out and in, just as with the Mending Splice. Either a “benefit”? Because it means that, for all but the
knot and tuck whole strands, or, for a more compact most extreme applications, you don’t need a thimble
splice, split them first (Figure 4-12B,C). to provide that bearing. Without a thimble, setup is
Come back to the married pairs and cast off easier. And without a thimble you can make very
their seizing. Overhand Knot two whole opposing small eyes for halyards, to give you extra effec-
strands together—with just enough tension to hold tive hoist length and less bulk to chafe on things
them in position for the moment—and lay the other up there.
two strands out and in, off to the right (Figure The concept of splicing braid, once you strip it
4-12D). Splice ’em. of all the “fid lengths” and assorted marks it is usu-

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