Page 77 - Barbara Merry - The Splicing Handbook

TOOLS & MATERIALS

Braided rope (flag halyard)
Scissors or sharp knife
Whipping twine and needle
Waterproof flexible adhesive
(such as that made by 3M)
Marking pen (fine)

The method of measuring is different from other splices. Instead of fid lengths,
we will be using rope diameters.

Lay out your rope, forming an eye of the desired size and leaving a tail of the
necessary length. To determine the length of strands necessary for the splice,
measure the diameter of the rope. Allow a length of 22 rope diameters for the tail
and make a mark. Remove the tape or cut off the melted end of the rope. Unlay
the rope up to the mark. Don’t be surprised if the unlaid portion seems unusually
long: for this splice it is necessary. Again form the eye and apply a very tight
seizing at the throat, measuring three rope diameters. In the illustration, the top
half of the seizing is a French Hitching. To make the French hitching, which
stays in place nicely especially when working with small cordage, simply tuck
the end under each turn of the seizing to make a series of half hitches, with each
hitch seated upon the previous one. When you snug the hitches, they should
describe a smooth spiral around the rope.