I wrote on post 41,
"For mooring lines I do use bowlines and thumb my nose at splicing. Just not needed. And so many other things to do owning a boat. I use 5/8” Brait line for mooring/dock lines. 5/8ths dock lines for a 30’ boat is over-kill indeed but one of the main reasons I get away w bowlines for dock lines. The oversize is definitely good for abrasion and also it makes up for the otherwise weakness of the bowline knot over a splice. I even wrap the ends w electrician’s tape. Never ever use duct tape .. for anything. It’s for “ducts”.
Yacht club class ...... not.
But re the old saying “works for me” applies."
Here's a picture.
Heat shrink tubing can work well when you need to whip the end of line.
Brought back memories of my grandfather teaching me to tie a bowline when I was 5. "Now tie again behind your back, boy, with your eyes closed!"
"But Gramp, I can't even tie my shoes!"
"Never mind your shoes, Boy. Your grandmother will tie your shoes! But you never know when you have to tie a bowline!"
All those bowlines would drive me nuts and my compulsive nature would have me put spliced loops in each of those lines. I’ve never spliced 8 strand line before so that would just provide an additional incentive to try.
Heat shrink tubing can work well when you need to whip the end of line.
Dave,
How so would they “drive you nuts”?
Are you a neat-nick?
Dan,
What I usually do w the ends of nylon line is to wrap the end tight and cut it off w a nice sharp knife w a square cut. Then cauterize the cut on the end w propane heat and the electrical tape still attached. Not duck tape.
The coating on the splice from Defender looks like Liquid Electrical Tape. Several companies make it.
The coating on the splice from Defender looks like Liquid Electrical Tape. Several companies make it.
Who? I looked far and wide years ago when I spliced it. Defender acknowledged that they use something but said it's proprietary. Never could find a retail source.
HaHa Dave,
Do you coil the ends of your dock lines in a perfect circle rotating it around?
I do it on rare occasions. Don’t remember the last time.
I think I have an independent streak.
My wife has learned to do the chain link thinghy with the excess line and hang it off the boat.
Drives me crackers!
Something like this. https://tinyurl.com/y2eqad6u
That chain link thingie does have an official name but, I cannot remember what it is. LOL
It is good until the line dries out after being wet with salt water.
My recommendation is to make sure the 'link' are big and loose....
That's the stuff I mentioned in the last sentence that wore right off.
Bought my dock lines from West Marine: eye at one end and sealed end at the other. Not worth my time or mental effort to modify plain rope.
I might draw the line at disassembling and reassembling inexpensive watches, but DIY splicing is a great skill my better half posses, and exercises when so inclined,much envied by the neighbours. The "Boys Own Book of Knots" I presented was ignored in favour of a youtube video.
More than you ever wanted to know about bowlines.
http://www.paci.com.au/downloads_public/knots/Bowlines_Analysis.pdf
More than you ever wanted to know about bowlines.
http://www.paci.com.au/downloads_public/knots/Bowlines_Analysis.pdf
The document is too large to attach. You can view and download from the above site with a document specific password (thankyou), which is given on their knots-public access page.
And the gendered ones. I was unsure whether it was a rabbit or snake coming round the tree and out of the hole, decided it was a rabbit pursued by snake and didn`t matter.And this is just about right handed bowlines. What until we start in on the left handed ones.