http://www.animatedknots.com/double...og.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

I had been using a figure 8 with an extra turn on the standing end, but have changed to the double overhand. The text explains the reasoning.

BAAAWAAAAA!

Their in Aussie land anyhow.

By the way, if anyone is interested in doing their own soft shackle, this is a good site to visit. You input the size and it tells you how much line you need, where to make your marks, etc.

Making Soft Shackles

Nice!

Anyone have a similar site for splicing?

I've gathered a small number of reference sites, maybe we should all compare notes someday?

This is my favorite: http://www.animatedknots.com/indexb...og.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

I think I got it from JW.

Here is the new england ropes splicing guide:

New England Ropes

Thanks. There was a long thread some time back about splicing and fids.

Do you happen to remember what the final verdict was? Is it necessary to buy an expensive set of fids or is there a more inexpensive alternative?

I don't remember that thread. I'd like to know because I'm going to be splicing some lines.

The jist was that fids can be expensive and not all sets work as well as others. So, you could be out $100 and still not have the correct tool.

get several sets of knitting needles from walmart. cut them shorter. BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!! fids... cheap too

There's an idea! You've actually done this?

yep. key issue is cutting them and then filing down the rough spots. they are hollow aluminum. Work great... but I am so unorganized I keep losing them.

I've used solid, small dia knitting needles for splicing 1/8" vectran 12 strand, taping the line to the needle. I remember Brian Toss Rigging having the quality fids. Search that and see what you get.

Don't bother buying a fid: For the size of lines we work with you probably have all the needed parts in your toolbox already.

Pick a length of thin wire (60cms or 2 foot), bend it in two in the middle, twist the ends together, cover the twist with tape and slide a plastic ball to cover the tape. If you want to be really fancy use stainless steel wire and bind the two ends with a nicropress sleeve instead of just twisting.

That's all you need to do all the splices you will ever need to do on your cat.

Thanks. What lines do you splice?

My weapon of choice is 3mm Dyna One HS from Gleistein. It is perfect for any lines you don't have to handle while sailing. I bought a 50 meter spindle for a very very good price and used it to replace lines on the trampoline, trapeze, pole, first stage of the main downhaul, spi downhaul and various soft shackles all around. There is not one knot on any of those lines, everything is spliced.

Most of the control lines are 4mm Excel Racing from Marlow tapered where needed and with splices or integrated soft shackes at the end as dictated by the place it is used (downhaul, spi halyard, main halyard, mast rotation, outhaul).

My tapered main sheet is Salsa from New England joined with some 4mm single braid dyneema of unknown origin (Marlow?).

I used 5mm Gleistein Discover for the line holding my trapeze dogbone, with a splice on both side and that was a mistake, I need to change it. This line is too slippy for that usage and my stopper keep sliding at the most inopportune moment. I need to replace that with something with more grip.

And I'm currently evaluating what to get to replace my spi sheets. I'm leaning toward a single braid dyneema/polyester blend like the Discover, in 6 or even 7mm with a tail to connect to the spi clew. I haven't decided what to get yet, suggestions welcome.

That's a lot of splicing.

once you start splicing and realize how easy (and cheap) it is to do you will find yourself doing what he did- everything gets spliced. If I lived next to my boat, everything would be 7/64 amsteel spliced

Ok, what's the easiest place to start?

making eye's in 12 strand dyneema

It's on the "to do" list.