Splicing chain to rope, better than a thimble?

[SVDistantStar]

Im just wondering if a rope to chain splice is a better way to go than an eye with a thimble. One of my books on knots and splices says that a eye splice reduces line strength by 30%. The one rode ive spliced together so far is holding great, but i did the splice longer than the book said. It said to count back 12 turns of the rope, but i went back about 10''. Ive got a good 5-6 links imbedded into the line now. This is 5/8'' line into 5/16'' chain.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by SVDistantStar

Im just wondering if a rope to chain splice is a better way to go than an eye with a thimble. One of my books on knots and splices says that a eye splice reduces line strength by 30%. The one rode ive spliced together so far is holding great, but i did the splice longer than the book said. It said to count back 12 turns of the rope, but i went back about 10''. Ive got a good 5-6 links imbedded into the line now. This is 5/8'' line into 5/16'' chain.

As I understand it, Yes.
Thimbles won't work with a windlass and subject the line to chafe.

A proper rope to chain splice is identical to an eye splice only performed tightly around the first link of the chain instead of a thimble.

[sailingdog]

Knothead—

Actually, the splice is more like a backsplice than an eyesplice, at least with three-strand laid line. With eight or twelve plait, it is an entirely different beastie.

BTW, IIRC, there are two ways to splice eight-plait/twelve-plait lines to chain. One runs the plaits forward along the chain, the other back into the line. I don't know which is stronger, but both seem pretty secure.

SVDS—

Knothead's points about the thimble being a bigger problem, especially if you use a windlass, is very true. Windlass gypsies generally throw a thimble...but most will accept a properly done line-to-chain splice.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Knothead—

Actually, the splice is more like a backsplice than an eyesplice, at least with three-strand laid line. With eight or twelve plait, it is an entirely different beastie.

In fact Rope to Chain splices do resemble a back splice more than an eye splice.
But in reality, they are an eye splice. The first turn of a back splice is different than an eye splice.
It's just that the eye is only as big as the thickness of the steel which makes up the link.

That's the part I am least comfortable with in regard to that splice, the deformation of the line.
However, having have made countless of them in the last 15 years or so and having never heard of a report of failure, I am guessing that the tight radius is not the first thing to fail.
I would be curious to know how most anchor rodes wear out first.
Perhaps we should conduct a survey.

[SVDistantStar]

Well my windlass is one of my halyard winches on the mast. Im going to pull up my bow anchor tomorrow and end to end the line and do a rope to chain splice on it. Right now ive got a bowline tied around the chain. Ive got my boat anchored by both the bow and stern right now as im along the edge of a river. Im in about 15' of water where i am and about 20-30' to my starboard side the bottom comes up in a hurry. Ive got my big bow anchor out and 2 smaller anchors off the stern.

Just wanting to make sure my splices are going to be a better way to go.

[sailingdog]

Actually, in a three-strand rope-to-chain splice, two lays go through the eye in one direction and one in the other, which is not what you'd do in an eyesplice, where all three would go around the object in the same direction. This is why I consider it more of a backsplice than an eyesplice.

Originally Posted by knothead

In fact Rope to Chain splices do resemble a back splice more than an eye splice.
But in reality, they are an eye splice. The first turn of a back splice is different than an eye splice.
It's just that the eye is only as big as the thickness of the steel which makes up the link.

[sailingdog]

You do need to inspect the splices regularly...but they seem to hold up quite well.

Originally Posted by SVDistantStar

Well my windlass is one of my halyard winches on the mast. Im going to pull up my bow anchor tomorrow and end to end the line and do a rope to chain splice on it. Right now ive got a bowline tied around the chain. Ive got my boat anchored by both the bow and stern right now as im along the edge of a river. Im in about 15' of water where i am and about 20-30' to my starboard side the bottom comes up in a hurry. Ive got my big bow anchor out and 2 smaller anchors off the stern.

Just wanting to make sure my splices are going to be a better way to go.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by SVDistantStar

Well my windlass is one of my halyard winches on the mast. Im going to pull up my bow anchor tomorrow and end to end the line and do a rope to chain splice on it. Right now ive got a bowline tied around the chain. Ive got my boat anchored by both the bow and stern right now as im along the edge of a river. Im in about 15' of water where i am and about 20-30' to my starboard side the bottom comes up in a hurry. Ive got my big bow anchor out and 2 smaller anchors off the stern.

Just wanting to make sure my splices are going to be a better way to go.

Yeah, you definitely will be better off if you do a good splice. The problem with the bowline is that that the chain link is loose enough that it can chafe the inside of the radius of the eye in the line.
If you do a proper splice and make sure that the link is held tightly by the line and that the movement is between the first and second links of chain. You will have greatly improved your situation.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Actually, in a three-strand rope-to-chain splice, two lays go through the eye in one direction and one in the other, which is not what you'd do in an eyesplice, where all three would go around the object in the same direction. This is why I consider it more of a backsplice than an eyesplice.

You are absolutely right.
Have another beer Steve.

[ereiss]

a rope/chain splice certainly looks simple. Can a splicing newby do it without having to tell the "Admiral" that he needs to check the anchor every hour to ensure they will not drift away during the night? I am capable of doing a turk's head (by way of showing my rope skills)

Thanks

Ed Reiss
Being There
Freedom 38
out of Jamestown, RI