Page 259 - Adlard Coles "The Knot Bible"

Short splice

‘Splice the mainbrace!’ It’s one of the best known nautical expressions, KNOT SCORE
which is now only used with reference to alcohol. And splicing a 75mm Strength
(3in) line in the middle of an Atlantic storm was something that deserved Security
to be rewarded with alcohol. Nowadays, splicing is a much more genteel Diffi culty Tying
affair which can be mastered by anyone who can repeat ‘over and under’ Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
enough times. If you can plait hair, you can tie a splice.

It used to be thought that splicing traditional ropes, nowadays you’d
rope was a mysterious art that could be foolish to put in less than four.
only be mastered by the most The main arguments for using a
experienced sailors and craftsmen. splice instead of a knot are clear.
Modern how-to books and videos Whereas a knot weakens the rope by
have put paid to that myth, and now around 50 per cent, a splice weakens
splicing is practised by amateur it by just 5–10 per cent. A splice is
sailors and knot-tyers alike. also generally more secure and
Modern materials have creates a more permanent join than
contributed to this trend. It’s a knot. The main disadvantages are

infinitely easier to weave together that it’s more time-consuming to tie,
the silky strands of synthetic it can’t be undone in a hurry, and it
three-strand rope than it ever was increases the diameter of the line by
sisal and manila. The downside is as much as 100 per cent.
that splices made using modern The length of a splice is measured 1 Seize the lines, allowing about

fibres are more likely to come in tucks, that is the number of times three times the diameter of each line
undone and, where two or three the strands of one part pass under per tuck. In this case, fi ve tucks
tucks might have suffi ced using the strands of the other part. using 10mm ( 3 ⁄8in) line: 3 x 10 x 5 =
5
150mm (5 ⁄8in).

5 Pick any strand from the top part 6 Tuck the first strand under its 7 Repeat the process for a further

of the splice, and open the strand neighbour, and pull it up fi rmly. four tucks, going over and under in
directly to its left (or to its right if Tuck the other two strands on that a clockwise direction.
using left-hand laid rope). Use a side of the splice under the strands
marlinspike or fid if necessary. immediately to their left too.

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