Marlinespike seamanship
Splicing and splices like knotting is an art in itself. With
a knife and fid one can splice a laid line. The principle is simple: three
strands are tucked over and under so they interweave with three other strands.
If you are splicing two lines together in what is called a short splice, the
resulting splice is thicker than the rope that is spliced together. The splice
will not go through a block of the correct size for the diameter of
the line.
A long splice is a solution to the block problem. Part of
each strand is taken out and the tapered result makes a thin splice. The long
splice is not as strong as a short splice but it will go through a block.
An eye splice can be made on the end of a line so the eye
can be slipped over a cleat or piling. It is done like a short splice by
interweaving the lade line strands.
A back splice is a splice done at the end of a line and it
results in a neat end of the line that does not unravel.
You can find excellent illustrations that show you how to
splice a line in Chapmans Piloting & Seamanship or go on line and
get an illustration on how to splice. It is not hard, but it takes practice.
I was practicing splicing an old piece of rope I found in my
sister’s barn. The 8 year old girl from next door was watching me and when I
was done and was tugging on the splice to check it and tighten the strands, she
checked the splice out. She said: “Neat, but why didn’t I just tie it together
with a knot”? 8-)
What could I say but: A spice is nice!
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