[dlochner]

An organization that I support has inherited a partially complete 65' LOD steel hull gaff rigged schooner. The goal is to qualify for USCG Certification as a Small Passenger Vessel.

The current standing rigging is galvanized wire with eyes swaged at the ends. The USCG suggested that we might want to consider an alternative method that is more in keeping with accepted practices. The inspector was not more specific; I assume he meant that the eyes should be spliced and not swaged. (The swaging looks like it is more typical of rigging completed for the construction and lifting industry, not for marine applications.)

I'm trying to understand why a splice eye is more desirable than an eye that is swaged or bull dogged. The three reasons I have found thus far are:

Swaged fittings subject the wire to work hardening at the end of the fitting because the swage is not flexible thereby weakening the wire.

Spliced fittings are more flexible, thus there is less likelihood of work hardening.

Splices spread the load over a longer section of the wire making the splice stronger than the shorter swaged fitting.

My questions, are these assumptions correct? If not, what are the reasons for using a splice instead of a swage? Are there additional reasons for using splices instead of swages?

Unfortunately I do not have ready access to the standing rigging to obtain dimensions. As I recall the rigging is about ⅜" and the swages are about 3" long.

Thanks!