Quote:
Originally Posted by GlennB
I figured out how to do it when I had access to the other end and have spliced it on that way. Just wondering if there might be some way to tie it without access to the other end (for future use).
Re: Cow Hitch
It seems like the point of splicing it is to keep the load capacitly at the splice as close to the line load capacity as possible - wouldn't a cow hitch signifigantly weaken the system? This is on a running back stay, so there are signifigant loads and I am replacing 5/16 wire with 5/16 endura.
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Hi there,
This actually relates to the discussion on joining mooring line eyes as well. I do not have the data in front of me, but as I recall, ring-hitching an HM eye does not weaken it very significantly. If this is so, I would speculate it is partly because the load doesn't move the parts of the line asymmetrically, as most knots do, partly because the compression from the bight of the hitch is indirect, and spread over two parts equally (minimal deformation of, and compression on, the standing part as it goes to the shackle), and partly because the effective radius is doubled, with two parts going around the shackle. I can't think of another structure that has all of these features. If, for example, you tie a round turn and two half hitches -- which has been shown to weaken HM dramatically -- you get the distribution on the shackle, but the standing part will want to move past the hitches, and the hitches deform the path of the single standing part.
I'll see if I can come up with the test numbers; meanwhile field experience indicates that a ring-hitch is a good thing, assuming it goes to a splice. If it doesn't, then we're back to asymmetrical loading, and weakening.
Fair leads,
BrionToss