Splicing

[jmolan]

Eye spliced the sheets and used one of these "softies" to attach to sheets.

Softies | Colligo Synthetic Systems | Colligo Marine

No more hang ups when tacking on my cutter rig.

Used em' for hanks, deck shackles, Sail tacks, halyard (no more banging shackles)

[pdqaltair]

I think the invention is about 200 years old, perhaps more. These were common on dingies, back in the day. Using high teck line is a valuable upgrade. For lesser applications these can be tied from any flexible line.

I have always used stropes to hold certain covers on the boat, because they are faster than knots and will not scratch the sides like shackles or other metal connectors.

[GaryHLucas]

Removing knots. Some years ago I came a cross a nylon sling left by the poer company because someone had tied a knot in it and the knot was about the size of my fist and hard as a rock. Probably pulled tight by the winch on a line truck! I don't know what prompted me to try this, but I put it down on a hard surface and pounded the knot with a hammer. In a few seconds it was loose and I untied it! Over the year I have untied knots in lines of all kinds using a hammer. It does not appear to damage the lines.

Gary H. Lucas