10 Good Reasons to get your Ropes Spliced

The Importance of Splicing your Ropes

The Jimmy Green Rigging Team are frequently asked questions about splicing and why it is important: 

What is Rope Splicing?

A yacht rope splice is a tried and trusted method for joining two ropes or creating a loop at the end of a rope to connect to a piece of hardware by interweaving the strands, thereby avoiding the need to tie a knot. 

The Most Popular Types of Rope Splices and their Uses

Rope Splicing Methods

The splicing process varies according to the rope construction and the fibre content. Modern yachting ropes are manufactured in all sorts of different configurations. Technological advances have moved rope design forward from the traditional three-strand twisted lay format to eight strands in a square design. Braiding and Plaiting have also advanced in recent years, modifying the number of outer plaits, with and without an inner core. As new, more advanced ropes become available, a new splicing technique is required to match.

What are the Alternatives to Rope Splicing?

This list is not exhaustive, but it should cover the main methods:

The Advantages of Yacht Rope Splicing

Durability and Security

Splicing creates a smooth, snag-free, tapered connection, reducing the chances of undue wear and tear and extending the working life of the rope.

Splicing is far more dependable than a knot, making it preferable for mooring, anchoring, and rigging applications. Stitching and whipping the splice is good practice to make it unshakeably reliable in all weathers. 

Strength

A splice will be far stronger than any knot. Depending on the type of rope, a proficiently executed and finished splice will achieve between 85% and 100% of the manufacturer-rated breaking load.

If you rely on knots, you may need to increase the diameter of your ropes to achieve your desired working load, making them less easy to handle and potentially much more expensive. There may also be a knock-on cost effect for all your fittings, e.g. winches, blocks, fairleads and clutches, because you may need to upgrade them to accept the larger rope.

Handling and Management

Spliced ropes are more manageable and easier to attach and disengage. In addition, they improve efficiency because they are ergonomically user-friendly. Your crew, especially those relatively unpractised in the art of sailing, will appreciate finding their assignments during onboard manoeuvres much easier to achieve. Their sailing will undoubtedly be more enjoyable as a result. 

A Splice is the best way to attach a rope because it avoids tying a knot.

Aesthetics and Yacht Appeal

An accomplished, spliced and whipped finish to all the ropes onboard will give you a justifiable sense of pride and satisfaction in a job well done.

Splicing is an art form requiring unique skills and techniques that can’t be mechanised.

Smart spliced lines attract admiration from other yacht skippers and crew, whether they are mooring warps, anchor warps, sheets, halyards, control lines, or simply your fender lanyards.

Spliced lines are neat and tidy, promoting a positive attitude to safety and efficiency.

So, what reasons (or excuses) are there not to splice your ropes?

Finishing the ends of a rope with a stitch and whip may be preferable, which is quite appropriate for some applications.

The other reasons come down to time, confidence, and cost.

There are different splices for every conceivable type of rope, and you may not have the time or inclination to learn them all. Also, practice makes perfect, and you may not want to waste copious amounts of rope trying to perfect each method. Each one requires a meticulous methodology to achieve a secure, dependable result. This may explain why knots are so appealing.

The process can also be physically demanding, requiring a firm grip, dexterity, and tough fingers. Lengthy practice sessions are undoubtedly the best approach for attaining the necessary cohesion, uniformity, and strength, but tackling a raft of splices in one stint may result in painful hands and sore fingers.

Confidence in your splicing ability is a must to ensure the more technically difficult splices have the necessary strength and durability, especially for critical applications. On the other hand, you may decide that discretion is the better part of valour and stick to what you know, leaving the job to a professional rigger.

The last thing you need is a bodged splice which may prove unreliable when the chips are down.

Cost is an undeniable factor, but it may be prudent to budget for the professional finish in key areas if the complete set is unaffordable.