Amsteel to Nylon double braid splice

[Stumble]

I have been considering making up an experimental composite dockline with an amsteel leaded coming from the cleat to just off the boat, spliced onto a double braided nylon line for the leingth of the line.

My though is that this would eliminate elongation at the high chaff areas (around the chock, and cleat), but preserve the elasticity of the nylon for shock loading and to allow for rising water during a hurricane.

My only concern is that I haven't seen a splice that addresses this (class 2 to class 1 end for end splice), and I am curious if anyone is familure with one, or has some ideas about how to perform it?

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Excellent idea. Works with Dacron/Nylon as well, or with a separate snubber of either material, hitched to the Nylon outboard the chock. Best application: mooring lines, of a known, fixed length. And I'm experimenting with all -Spectra, with internal rubber snubbers.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[Stumble]

Brion,

I spoke with the guys at Sampson Rope, and they suggested just doing an eye to eye mating. I guess it would work, but I just don't like the idea of such a tight turning radius for both lines. My next thought was a ring with thimbles, but I haven't found the hardware I am envisioning, which is why I was thinking of the end to end splice. Unfortunately I haven't found anyone who has done this type of splice, and I really don't have the testing equipment to just fiddle around with it until its right.

So if you have any thoughts on how best to attack this I would be appreciative.

On the elastic inside spectra, I have done a few as safety tethers, but I would be concerned about the abrasion on dock lines as the two lines stretched passed each other. For the safety tethers I don't see them getting enough cycles for it to matter, but for dock lines I think it could be a problem. I would certainly be interested in what you come up with though.


As for the composite dockline idea, the more I think about it, the more I like it. As least during Katrina the primary failure mechanism was the dock lines chaffing right at the chock. Placing an inelastic, chaff resistant line here I think would have gone a long way towards saving some boats. And while I am sure there are some, I haven't been able to come up with any real downsides other than cost.