How to Splice Rope Directly to Chain
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2024
- Today we are looking at how to construct a rope to chain splice. There are a few techniques out there but we feel this one gives the neatest and strongest finish and is the one used by professionals. Modern anchor winches can often handle chain and rope combinations, though the use of a thimble and shackle to join them is precluded. If this is your case or you just want to learn a new skill, this video is for you!
We also give some insight into the use of stainless steel chain.
We are working on more instructional videos for you that will address rope skills and marlinspike seamanship, among other subjects. This is the first of them and we hope you find it useful in your adventures, no matter where they may be.
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It would seem to me that you have reduced the inline tensile of your rope by 2/3's plus another 50% by doubling the robe back as it goes through the chain link.
Here is a page showing step by step stages of this splice and the guy addresses the strength factor at the end. He states that each strand forms a 2:1 giving the strength of 4 strands but as it is the equivalent of basketing a load, it is closer to 1.7:1.
This splice has served well through 50 knot squalls and 6 weeks of nearly constant 30 knot winds daily with not one fibre astray. I've used it for years.
I'll pin it to the top for following visitors.
www.riggingdoctor.com/life-aboard/2017/5/25/rope-to-chain-splice
I agree with Peter and I think you have misunderstood what Herb Benevant is saying. The SPLICE is stronger than the original rope for the reason you've quoted, i.e. each of the two strands is doubled back, therefore 2:1 (or 1.7:1 because it's basketed). The SPLICE is now comprised of four strands and is, therefore, stronger than the original rope of three strands. BUT, and here's where you have made the mistake in my opinion, you still only have two strands attaching the rope to the link. No amount of shenanigans is going to make those two strands stronger than three strands, i.e. the join is weaker than three strand rope. Basically, the splice is stronger but the rope/chain attachment is not.
No.
FRS - This realistically could come under the heading of nit picking as this process does indeed work for you and your boat! I have no idea who the manufacturer or the specs for the line that you are using but it might be worth adding the caveat that this works successfully for a boat your size, drag forces and weight.
The Rigging Doctor does indeed say the SPLICE is stronger which indeed it is as you now have more than 3 strands working. I have copied and pasted the paragraph that I think you are referring to in your response to my comment. Just a reminder, he is ONLY speaking about the splice, not the actual tensile strength of the 2 strands as they wrap around the link.
"You might be concerned though, about only using two strands to hold your chain instead of all three. In a sense, you have reduced the strength of the rope from three strands to only two!
The truth is, this splice is stronger than the three strands, as the two strands that are working are folded over and tucked back into the rope. This creates a 2:1 on each strand, meaning that there are actually 4 strands holding the force of the chain! That's right, you started with three strand rope and ended up holding the chain with four strands."
Here is my reasoning. If you bend a line 180 degrees within the diameter of its thickness you have reduced the tensile strength by 50%! Think about this whilst looking at the 2 intermediate strands of the 3 as they go through the link. As the line wraps around the chain link the radius of the top 50% of the individual strands are under much greater tension than the inner strands. The outer 50% stands are doing all the work as they have to 'travel' further around the wrap than the inner 50% radius. The inner strands are loafing, doing very little within the radius of the bend. These inner strands will continue to do little to nothing until the upper 50% radius of the strands start to stretch or fail. This is why thimbles came into being, they keep the rope in a gradual radius thus allowing each individual strand that comprises the rope to do their job.
I would also add to your comments regarding the splicing of a line to chain, that making the bend around the chain link absolutely as tight as possible to reduce the ability of the link to move and wear the rope.
Nit picking aside, you two have the best sailing channel on TH-cam and it is only exceeded by the quality of the relationship that you both display!
Peter Haan if he's only on about the splice, why does he use reference to 2:1. That's a mechanical advantage term used by riggers to determine how much slings can lift.
The tackle used holds Marool its true but larger vessels would use correspondingly larger gear.
Sure it works in practice but does it work in theory?!
Great info! Working with that hot knife over your leg kept me on edge.
A lot different. A sharp knife could be lethal.
I don't understand the point of taking 1 strand out of what looks like 1/2" 3-laid rope. Why not put the whole rope through the chain ring and splice it exactly as you would any eye that would be braided into a dock line. I used the make fixed eyes all the time, super strong, never had a break. Why would you willingly give up 1/3 of the strength of your line?
I bet you weren't expecting this many comments on your video. Thanks, I really enjoyed the video and it helped me splicing rope to chain. Something to think about, the strength of a system like this, rope spliced to chain, comes down to the strength of the weakest spot in the system. Prior to all these comments, i would have guessed the weakest spot was the rope strands passing through the chain. But now I have convinced myself that it is probably too complicated to predict without test data. So i will be silent on that topic. My wife and I were in Australia in Oct and Nov of 2018. I am slowly working my way through your video episodes. Hope you are still having great adventures :-)
Outstanding teacher Troy. Thoroughly enjoy watching Free Range Sailing. You and Pascale put out great content.
God it is good to see see someone who actually knows whats what, and knows how to explain it.
I really like these how-to videos you've been doing lately.
Another high quality Video! Thanks! Lines and Knots are so interesting. Especially when you explain it so well. Really can't tell you how long I've waited for some great tying video from you.
They are coming.
I’ve watched several videos on the subject but this has been the most useful and convincing. Many thanks
Back to my marlin spike seamanship days... I got quite handy at splicing 3-strand, then when I transferred to the Signal Bridge, we were told we had to use double braid for our halyards... We acquired nylon Samson-braid and a fid kit, then went about learning to splice all over again... Your hybrid long/short splice reminds me a bit of that, as it involved removing some of core... I’ll add your technique to my mental library of neat things learned!!! Great video kids!!!
Splicing braid is a nice skill to have. Hope you kept up the knack.
Free Range Sailing, I still remember the premise of what to do, but would likely have to eyeball the instructions again... That was well over thirty years ago!!!
Awesome video! I love the down to earth way you explain all of the practical subjects you cover. I have already been through the impellor on my outboard, following your explanation. Pascal will be one of the most learn'ed 1st mates on the ocean blue.Cheers team.Wade.
That looks much nicer, and way more slim than my last splice to a chain. Nice job!
I watched this yesterday. Within 24 hours the mysterious algorithms showed me some other clips of this method of splicing.
Gotta say your presentation technique is much better and easy to follow.
Great work.
In that 15:19 vid I think I learnt something more useful than I did in 4 years of primary school French. As always I tip my cap to your seemingly immeasurable fountain of knowledge.
Great easy to understand lesson. Deft use of hot knife without singeing leg hairs! Always learning from your videos. Thanks.
I don't have a boat or even care about rope....you're just fun to listen to. (I was trying to learn about jewelry making....but here I am.)
Very nice I love it when you teach us I always learn something and you have become very trusted by us groupies thanks
Many thanks for both the demonstration and the discussion showing that in this case, two strands does not weaken the splice.
Once again thank you for this video ..enjoy your videos as there always interesting..unlike some others that focus on the ladies in tiny out fits..
Hi how are you both beautiful people..Thank you for showing us how to spice a rope.You are very creative and handy.I hope you both will be safe always on the waters.We love you both ❤️..God speed
Another excellent, informative, and oddly entertaining video. Every time I watch I come away with the feeling I have just spent time with friends and learned something, then I reach out to hand you a beer and you're not there. Oh well, maybe someday.
That someday will be great. Cheers
Troy definitely has a great teachers voice! Very easy to listen to! ,,,,,,/),,,,,,
An answer, 2 a question I needed an answer 2 .Thanks, Troy and the decky. Regards Kad.
Why may I ask did you not run the third string theu the chain?
I Like you 2 and your channel is awesume!
as an AB ... before , and an engineer presently ... love the useful tutorials. fine info... fine mariner . I would be delighted to do a hitch with this gent any time
Niiiice !! Never saw that kind of splice before. Always something to learn from a master !!
Great skill to have on any boat. And it's quite simple as well. What I didn't know what the integrity of the rope stays the same. What I did learn in boating classes was that a knot in a rope can reduce the strength up to 40%. Very cool splice Troy! Nice camera work Pascal. Steady as she goes! PEACE OUT! Ü
I'm a bit wary to say the integrity stays exactly the same but having the two strands separate means that the diameters of the strands are closer to the diameter of the link and a hard change of direction is avoided like if using all 3 strands. I'm using 14mm rode on my 8mm (5/16) chain so all three wouldn't fit regardless.
Great teacher now I know how to splice rope. Thanks again Troy
Very informative! I've always wondered the best way to connect rope to chain! Great lesson! Thanks for sharing! Safe sailing!
Big thank you for this very well explained tutorial, I have to do this for the new chain of my sailboat on 8 mm
Outstanding explanation and presentation. Thank you for this!
Another great video, I'm surprised that the majority of sailing channels are only using Gal chain scrubbing the hell out of it every time they pull anchor I have thought many times that 316 stainless would have to be much easier to clean. Good Job Cheers Rob.
There are a lot of poor stainless chains out there and the good ones are $$$. Having said that, the good gal chain is a lot more than the cheap imports too.
That's one they did not teach us for the Boy Scout pioneering merit badge. Thanks much! Fair winds and following seas.
Pioneering is not the same as Marlinspike Seamanship but it gave me a good background. I learned long & short splicing for line-to-line, eye, and back splices and since then picked up single & double braid splices for a variety of applications and a bunch of new knots (and some new names for old knots.)
You're not telling me something I didn't already guess. I made some fids from small hammer handle blanks, but never graduated to lines that required a marlin spike. So far I've learned just enough to give me an idea of the extent of my ignorance.
@@BillB23 Lots of splicing (and knots) on utube.
all these comments and first to like ,hit the like button y'all.
is there any thing you can't do Troy
you are a great source of knowledge thanks
my dad and grand paw did stuff like this in U S Navy.
Being compared to your kin is a great compliment, thanks very much.
That wind generator is tons quieter with the new blades!!!
Very nice indeed. In the late 1970's and 80's I was a commercial salmon fisherman out of Northern California. Besides doing my own rigging I would teach some of the other fisherman how to splice rope. Rope splicing was used a lot back in the days when ski lifts were just pull ropes. You needed good clean splices so the rope would go through pulleys without binding.
Commercial salmon? Was that seine nets? I guess you are talking about using long splices to run those blocks. I've learned a lot from the time I was fishing for a living. (Well, kinda still are)
Free Range Sailing: No, salmon trolling. With a 50 foot, 12 foot beam, duel plank wooden hull boat that was originally a sail boat used as a Pilot Boat (take the port captain out to a ship).
Such sagely wisdom. You're a very engaging chap Troy. You should have a sub channel where you impart nautical and sailing tips from your experiences on the water. Very informative and well presented. Thanks to you both.
It's coming.
Groovy :D
You convinced me on the stainless steel chain.
It does need to be good stainless. Crappy stuff is out there.
Thanks for this video. Really helpful.
Triffic stuff Troy, you are the master of cool teaching........ When you give up this sailing about the Australians there's gotta be a place to teach ........ just saying 😊
Splicing is something that has almost gone by the wayside. Even though I have been away from ships and the sea for many years, I still splice rope or wire rope (steel cable) when needed here on the farm. I still do knot boards for the nieces and nephews while trying to teach them knot tying.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, it is always instructional to me. Cheers, Richard
Saved for my future education 👍 Troy 🤓 Pascal 🤩
I have spliced three strand gliding towropes for a few decades, the rings are much larger than chain links so a double wrap then tight “standard” splice does the trick (width not so much of an issue but thimbles and shackles add too much weight). I was concerned (like others) about the drop down to two through the link but the penny has dropped re three strand rope becoming “four strand” too the chain less a factor (your 1.7) therefore keeping strength! Thanks, been watching a while but first post, intend a bit of my own FRS when I retire and finally buy a boat in a couple of years. :) Tom
Thank youTroy... you. as ever, are just too freakn' competent!!
I was taught this way of attaching 3 strand to chain myself but was always bothered by what I felt (right or wrong)to be a weak spot where the rode was connected just at the last link so I started braiding the rode up through the links after unlaying it by 10 turns. This is a similar method used for 8 plait but I am satisfied with It's use with 3 strand.
Thimbles are cumbersome. I prefer a splice too.
Good thing too.its no good using a method that will keep you awake with worry. It's up to each skipper to make the call for themselves at the end of the day.
While watching this I worried about the strenght after removing one strand but your reasoning is correct and I will have to re do mine. Like your way better. It's more secure and slimmer to go through the winch capsten.
Thanks for the demo.
Dan
For 5/16" chain, I would recommend 12-14mm rode to get the strength so that means you can't fit all three strands through the link.
As always thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Great video and instruction. Thanks. :-). I remember doing a line to line splice on my last yacht but it’s a case of use it or lose it!! Nice to see a new splice that I’ve never done. Splices are such a cool way of joining a braid rope.
I find your way much easier then other videos. Will this work for a windless anchor
you can roll it under your foot when you're done to smooth it all out and get it to lay neat and tight.
Well explained, thanks for sharing.
Just to add my bit to the strength of the 4 strands at the very top (rounding over the chain link). The tension in each of the 4 strands is ¼ the overall rope tension. The tension is the same (¼) through the entirety of a strand, even as it rounds over the top of the link. Ignoring "basketing" , at the point of attachment the rope is 4 strands strong compared to the three strands in the normal run of the rope
Thank you for the very instructive video.
Hi, a suggestion for your next project.... a folding hot knife stand with weighted non-slip base = less chance of accidentally scarring something. Love your content Cheers Bill
I am new to this. I just cut the rode off my anchor chain so I can use the end of the chain at the anchor and I need to splice the rode to the old chain now at the end. My rode had all 3 strands going through the chain link. Your method looks great but you only have 2 strands through a link. Your method is 2/3rds as strong as 3 strands through a link. Am I right? Am I missing something?
Good video but am I correct in that only two stands are through the chain of a 3 strand line ? Seems right at the chain where chaff might be high the line is thinnest . I realize that as it comes back there are 4 strands carrying the load right till it turns through the chain
Great vid mate , you make it look easy , ill give that a go , love all your vids by the way
Just take care with the start and the final tucks.
Is it your view that this is better than what might be called the ring splice where all three strands are intertwined or is it that it is just thinner and easier to go down hawse pipe?
Anyway interesting alternative.
Troy and Pascal so good to meet you guys in Townsville, you have so much that you share. Pascal your chicken livers were great. What a great master chef you are. Troy you walk the talk, go easy and go safe, you two. I hope we meet up again.
We are refloated now and should be out and about soon. If you head over to our Facebook page, we'll stay in touch.
Free Range Sailing Pascal I love chicken livers would you please do a video of your preparation. Troy really like your demo on splicing. I know how to eye and back splice; but did not know this method. Thank you! I am not a sailor but hope to change that very soon before I get told old. Both of you are awesome people and I enjoy your channel very much. Cheers from America!
It would be our pleasure- it really is easy.
Just had to do a three strand spliced lanyard for my new parang. Got to take out the hot knife and cut off those taped ends.
Lol
Awesome stuff Troy very informative
Nice explanation. I just got a new Rocna 40, 200 feet of galvanized 1/2 chain and 200 feet of rode, speced to work in my gypsy. I used the 3-strand back splice approach with tapering. When I reeled it all up in the yard for the first time the splice stuck in the tube but was easily pulled through. After load the splice should skinny and flex up a bit, but if it doesn't I'll definitely lop it off and try this approach. PS My hot knife was well worth the money. A stainless anchor and chain look great, but since they are 3 times as expensive they are worth stealing.
Great, good luck with the new anchor. We have a lot of faith in our Rocna and have yet to find its limitations. It would be incredibly frustrating to have someone steal your anchor!
Excellent as usual!!!
Great job, definitely a hidden talent has a teacher and the câmara was spot on. (Got me concerned about the hot knife close to your leg )
It's nice to see the concern you all have for my furry legs.
Free Range Sailing 😂😂😂 safety first
Thanks really like learning the knots
I know someone that does this for $20 a splice, and he's in demand from recreational fishermen using windlasses that require a rope to chain splice. Pretty good side gig.
An interesting splice, I have not seen that technique before. We have just spliced our chain with Octoplait and I am currently editing the video with a view to putting it up in a week or so. I will link to this and, if you wish, I will put a link to the Octoplait video in these comments.
The more knowledge shared and the greater options available to everyone, the better.
Am I seeing two strands passing through the chain link? If so, wouldn't a simple short splice around the link put all three strands through the link for greater wear life?
All three went fit when you use the correct size rope for the chain.12-14mm rode on 8mm chain. If all 3 go through as one, you take a rope around too tight a bend, relative to its diameter.
I don't know. I have had three strands through ( 2 in one direction and one opposite) with a short splice and it has lasted me over 6 years in all kinds of weather. Never any doubt. I would much rather have 3 strands through than 2. Not sure where i learned the splice but it was specific for rope through chain.
I just used the rope bundle trick in the washing machine the other day, now a new rope trick to try out. Sure glad I found this channel. on another note, over your right shoulder, was that one of Mic Storer's river boats anchored out?
Very helpful👍... Thanks for sharing.
Good job. It would appear that since you only took 2 braids of your rope through the chain, the strength would be only be 2/3 that of the rope.
Hmm,never seem it done this way. Thank you for that. I might have to try it and compare it to normal.
heya oke to remember that I have to do that a couple of time learning more and more
Great info...Well done!
First time I've seen it done like that, and it is true some strength is lost, as noted. And what he does is a fair amount of work for what you get. What we have done is simply a "back spice". With that you use all three strands with less strength loss.
Nice use of that new hot knif. ;-)
That was very informative, especially since I didn't have a clue how to do that splice. Thank you Troy for making this task easy to understand and follow your technique! I would love to have the 3/8" G4 stainless ISO chain for the sailboat I'm looking at but 250' at $22 per foot is way too expensive for my blood....of course so is the $4 HT galvanized chain, lol.
We use 30m (100'.) Chain backed up by 70m (250') of rope. Alot of places we dont even get to the rope. Then when the weather turns nasty, we can let out plenty of rope to act as a big shock absorber.
Good point Troy. With normal anchoring in say 10' of water, plus bow roller of 6', plus a 4' tide = 20' X scope of 5 = 100'.....so 150' of chain with a large anchor (in my case) is enough, plus 250' of nylon rope. That should work fine for me and with much less chain weight in the bow.....thank you Troy!
Great info
Is that natural fiber anchor chain?
If the hawse hole is small enough to limit anchoring equipment options, enlarge the hole a bit. It’s the rode that tangles itself in a knot & wont pass through the deck opening. I attached 6 ft. of HUGE chain to the anchor, to act as a kellet, requiring larger shackles. 100 ft. chain, 200 ft. 1/2 in. rode. 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. hawse hole. Lockable. It’s a beast to haul up, but I’m young! Only 62! What’s fer supper t’nite?
Nice job
Great stuff!
I personally use all three parts of my line through the first link of the chain, two from the bottom and one through the top, then over one and under one alternating the lines. I suppose that this would work fine and if it has then more power to you. I just think if you have three parts of a line, then use all three through the chain link. Good video though.
That looks easy
Our job is done Alan!
Nice to learn that....
That is a very clean splice and not complicated to do. I was thinking that by taking one strand out of the chain as you weave it down and only 2 strands passing through the link you would be reducing the strength of the connection by 1/3. but you are saying that is not the case? Why?
Each strand supports the link with 2 legs. This is basketing a load in riggers parlance and means that we get 1.7 times the strength of the strand. There are 2. That's close enough to having 3 times the strength of one strand supporting the chain. That equates to 3 strands. Look up basket a load on a rigging site.
Separating the strands allows a smaller relative diameter to bend around the chain link.
Excellent. Thank you Troy. I will be using your splice on my new boat next month. Appreciate the idea very much.
www.riggingdoctor.com/life-aboard/2017/5/25/rope-to-chain-splice
There is a step by step pictorial to help you out. All the best Tony.
Excellent 👍👍
So where did you get most of your knowledge for these things, fishing or sailing? I'm guessing you've done some commercial fishing in your day. Obviously you have sailed, but I've seen you do a few things now that I've only seen commercial fisherman do. Commercial fishing in Alaska is where I stared, it's surprising to me that these things and some of the things you say are identical in such different places.
I wonder if Troy has time to be my dad.
You won't like the jokes
Very neat
I had my doubts about the strength until the end. Of course, that logic holds while the load is shared equally between the two.
In all our time since we lost our anchor in the Kimberley, including anchoring every day in 25-30 knot winds and chop down the Queensland coast, we have been on the same rope splice and it hadn't worn out a strand. I only redid it to replace our chain. I've been using that technique for many years.
Oxygen actually speeds up the corrosion. I do underwater inspections on moorings and the links of chain that lay deep in mud/silt/sand are in a far better condition than those not covered. The exposed chain around the rise and fall area (part of chain that lifts off the seabed during the rise and fall of the tide) experiences more wear.
They use stainless for moorings?
Free Range Sailing Na galvy but you do see stainless shackles a lot! Causing galvanic corrosion of two dissimilar metals. 🤙🏻
I guess it’s a bit different as the moorings I inspect are in the water year round. Whereas anchor chain isn’t in the water typically that long
316 austenitic stainless requires oxygen to form an oxide that protects it from further corrosion. 316 fittings in boats always corrode at the point they enter the deck or if people cover them with Sikaflex etc. Not so for gal or bare carbon steel. The stainless shackles will be a problem.
@@FreeRangeLiving How doers that work for stainless keel bolts!! Now I worry more!!
So nobody can go crazy there’s different qualities of stainless steel
I have never seen someone do this splice without passing and using all 3 legs of line. I like this better because it makes a thinner splice through the Windlass but I don't see how it is not much weaker. It would be fine 99% of the time but I would be very worried in a heavy blow like 60 knots plus.
I am going to give this a try but obviously the connection is 50% less strong as the rope after eliminating 1/3, bending it and adding some chafe.
There is a comment thread pinned at the top explaining why it retains its strength. Never had chafe using it for a decade. The splice, like all splices is the weak point. They fail just behind the splice if they do fail.
That's a splice and a rope/chain combination that i have never liked. I have often done rope to chain with 8 plait nylon which gives a neat but slightly 'fat' splice. With my last cruising boat i changed the hawse arrangement from a conventional pipe to what looked like a very small ss hatch and made a plug that sat around the chain and filled the space around it under the little hatch fitting. Generally what i do now is keep my anchors and rodes as a 'kit of parts'...one is always complete and ready to go but the others are kept so that i can make up the combination that i want on the day and that can be from all warp at one end to lots of chain or a bit of both. Another thing i played around with was having a fairly short chain 'leader' of 2 x the boatlength in very high quality chain but stowed on deck in a custom built stowage and only the warp going below. Anchors and anchoring are so interesting that i wrote a whole series about them....i even got 'pinned' to the bottom by my hook this year and not through the classic entanglement problem .
dirtywetdog.co.uk/2018/06/11/a-nice-little-exercise/
Great tip. I wish the shot of what you were doing was better, close-up, maybe even slow motion.
In the comment thread pinned to the top of the comments section is a link to still pictures and a long discussion of people's concerns with this splice.
Thanks!
Educational plus 😉
And there you have it. How to install the weak link.
I agree with Peter, something seems wrong with this technique????
excellent alternative to the thimble splice. Its always good to have choices. BTW, i'm neither religious or political so no worries here mate.
Very good video, but you know the magnet sticks to it. It’s not stainless stainless will not rust that magnetic stainless.