Page 441 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

2661. To splice two strll'1lds together: Stop them at the length of

the splice and cut out the heart yarns, leaving all outside yarns un-

disturbed. Divide the remaining yarns of each end into equal thirds

and crotch them. Then, using a loop of stiff wire, short splice as

#2635, but reversely since the lay is left. Care must be taken to tuck

under an equal number of yarns at each operation. The ends of the

splice should be whipped with sail twine. If the strands are to be

worked up into sinnet this will not be necessary.

2662. A SHORT SPLICE of four-strand material to three-strand ma-

terial. At times considerable four-strand rope has been used in the

running rigging of yachts. It is more pliant than three-strand rope and

2. 662. is smoother and softer to handle, but many chandleries do not carry

it and replacements while cruising are sometimes difficult. Conse-

quently the occasion will arise for a THREE-STRAND TO FOUR-STRAND

SPLICE. This splice is often required by lobstermen and other long-

shore fishermen who collect and use secondhand gear.

The common way to make the SHORT SPLICE is to crotch two

strands of the four-strand rope end for use as a unit and to divide a

single strand of the three-strand rope. Tuck all ends once as in the

illustration. After the first tuck of the two-strand unit, half of each

of the two strands are laid together to make a single strand and the

2663 three strands are t\1.en tucked full once more, and then once one half

and once one quarter.

Turn the structure around, divide the three full strands in half and

layout half from two of them. Tuck the remainin four half strand,

as a four-strand rope, twice full and once one hal.

2663. A THREE- BY FOUR-STRAND SHORT SPLICE, from Alston's Sea-

ma1lship. Seize both ends. Divide one strand of the four-strand rope

into thirds and lay up one of these thirds with each of the remaining

three full strands. Crotch the ends as in three-strand rope, stick

twice full, once one half and once one quarter. Turn the splice

around and divide one strand of the three-strand rope into two parts

and tuck as described in the previous splice.

2664. In this splice the four-strand end is treated as in the previ-

ous splice and the THREE-STRAND SPLICE has one fourth of the yarns

from each strand laid out and then laid up into a fourth strand. The

ends are then married and are short spliced in the usual way, four

strands into the four-strand rope and three strands into the three-

strand rope.

2665. Lay up the three-strand rope into a four-strand ro e by

robbing one fourth of the yarns from each strand to make a ourth

that is long enough for a regular FOUR-STRAND SHORT SPLICE. But if

the three-strand rope is the smaller one an extra strand may be side

spliced into it for a length as long as the whole splice.

2666. Lay up the four-strand rope into three strands by dividing

the extra strand among the three that remain, for a distance long

2666
enough to allow of a regular THREE-STRAND BACKHANDED SPLICE.

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