Since effective control lines are key to a more pleasurable sail, in this article we have a few suggestions to improve their performance. The biggest obstacle to efficiency is frequently using rope that is too thick. Our tips: wear gloves, then use the thinnest rope possible. Now, make sure each rope goes squarely through its cleat.
Modern cored ropes, like Dyneema, are much more difficult to splice than the old three-stranded variety, so this is a skill you need to learn. And since we have plenty of time right now, it seems a good time to learn!
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Using A Fid
Fids are used in splicing, a good set will make you splicing quicker and neater. The photo below shows fids of different sizes for use with ropes of different diameters. Note each has a spike in the gutter. You push one rope into the gutter and the spike grips it while the fid is pushed through another rope, or back through the same rope.
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Making a Locking Loop in Dyneema
- Make a loop and mark it with a felt tip pen (1 & 2).
- Push the fid through the short tail (3).
- Load the fid with the tail and pull it through (4).
- Push the fid through the long tail again and use it to pull the short tail through (5).
- Push the fid through the long tail longitudinally (6).
- Feed the loose tail into the fid, then pull the fid and the rope out, so that the short tail is completely inside the long tail (7).
- Now you have a loop with no end showing (8). If there is a little tail, cut it off.
Note: you can only make a locking splice at one end of the rope because you have to feed the other end of the rope through the rope.
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Splicing Two Ends of a Rope Together (e.g. to make a continuous control line)
- Cross the ends over each other, leaving equal tails (A and B) (1).
- Push the fid through the standing part of B and use it to pull tail A through (2).
- Push the fid through the standing part of A and use it to pull tail B through (3).
- Repeat this once more for each tail (4). Now the splice is locked (5).
- Now get rid of the ends. Thread the fid through the length of rope A, and load it with tail B. Withdraw the fid, pulling tail B inside rope A (6). Get rid of tail A in a similar way.
- Concertina the splice and pull out each tail a bit. Trim them off (7), then milk the splice so the ends are completely internal (8).
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Useful shopping basket accessories:
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We also have numerous products that are designed to be spliced onto rope:
Dog Bones, High Load Thimbles, Blocks and products that benefit been spliced.
Still need more info, although the shop is closed we are still providing a safe mail-order service manned by a limited number of staff. Please be aware orders are taking longer than usual to deliver, we are dispatching as fast as we can, but postal and courier services are currently flat-out. Keep safe!
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To reach Ian Pinnell call:
01604 345010
Or email
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For Sales enquiries call:
01604 345011
Or email
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For Sail Loft enquiries call:
01604 953582
Or email
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