Page 454 - The Ashley Book of Knots

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CHAPTER 35: EYE SPLICES (MULTI-STRAND Loops)

Every finger a marlingspike,

Every hair a rope yarn.

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SAILORS' ADAGE

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2725. The SAILOR'S EYE SPLICE. Form the eye and spread the

strands away from you fanwise, placing them against the rope where

it is to be entered. Untwist the rope one half turn, open the top or

center bight with a small fid, and stick the center strand under the

center bight from right to left, then stick the left strand under the

next bight to the left in the same direction and lastly stick the right

strand, from right to left, under the remaining bight. After this, tuck

all strands once more, over one and under one. Trim the ends at

a length equal to one diameter of the rope.

Ship-model builders should make this splice with three sail needles,

or else by drawing the ends through with a hairpin.

2726. The same splice tucked twice full, and once one half (called

two and a half tucks). If the rope is "long-jawed," the splice may

be tucked four times full. The ends are often whipped twice, over

the last two tucks.

2727. Darcy Lever's SAILOR'S EYE SPLICE, from the Sheet Anchor

(1808). Tuck the left strand a second time as shown, to bring all

the ends into the same tier, and then tuck all strands two and one

half times further.

2728. A THIMBLE EYE. Put on a stop or else chalk-mark the rope

at the point where the strands are to be opened, and also the point 1.

where the ends are to be stuck. This length is equal to once the

round of the thimble, plus once the round of the rope. One half a

turn is taken out of the eye before the strands are stuck. After the

eye is completed, it is opened out with a fid and greased with tallow,

before driving in the thimble.

2729. In heavy rope the eye is made directly around the thimble. 2.132

In RIGGING SPLICES the part that rounds the thimble is served over,

but hawsers are not served, as they do not dry out readily. After

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looping the rope around the thimble, seize it at the bosom and then 73'

again at either leg, close to where the strands are to be stuck. It may

be held vertically in a vise and a Spanish windlass used to he«ve the

legs together, or else use a marlingspike and heave with racking

turns.

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