Mooring lines
 

It is time to replace my mooring lines. Although I can manage an eye splice, I cannot seem to get my thimbles tight enough not to slip and rotate. I searched and found the hot water trick.....worked but not enough. A friend suggested I start using a fid. Went to West.....the one they had used a wobbly plastic insert that made me want to look for another. I searched "fid": no hits. Looking for a fid suggestion, and schooling on how to get the thimbles tight.

Re: Mooring lines
 

Rather than use a an eye slice, just use straight mooring lines. This will permit you to adjust you lines from the deck and the dock. And I am not sure why you would want to insert thimbles into a dock line.

If you really insist, the folks at the chandlery can probably do it faster for minimal charge. I know that doing your own splices is more "shippy."

Re: Mooring lines
 

jackdale's right, cheaper at the chandlery BUT if you gotta do it yourself go to Splicing Tools (fids, splicing wand, etc.) - Knot And Rope Supply Ltd. - I use the Selma ones with success

Re: Mooring lines
 

I live on a mooring....so shackles and thimbles. A friend suggested tape initially to keep things tight. I think I might borrow a fid and try the tape method. Thanks for the replies.

Re: Mooring lines
 

That makes sense.

Re: Mooring lines
 

The more skills you have, the easier it is to stand tall and proud down at the bar.

Re: Mooring lines
 

Put a seizing at the throat of the splice to cinch it up tight against the thimble.

Re: Mooring lines
 

Thanks Heinzir. Do you have a link of a good seizing? I tried that with some waxed whipping I had..... couldn't seem to get it tight enough. Is there a constricting one I could use? In looking at the thimble I am reusing: where it comes together (throat?) seems wider than my other ones, and 3/8 wider than the stainless ones at West I was looking at. I think I might retire this thimble.

Re: Mooring lines
 

Here is a link I found on Google that will give you several alternatives:
http://www.sccheadquarters.com/UserD...20Splicing.pdf

I use the palm and needle whipping myself. When finished, I rub some wax over the entire whipping, even though I already used waxed twine, and then hold it over a flame for a few seconds so the wax melts evenly over the whipping. While not necessary, I think it gives some added protection against chafe and UV damage.

Re: Mooring lines
 

Get a thimble one size larger and jam it in there?