Splicing 24 Braid Anchor Rope to Chain

[Petronella]

Hi

I hope you can help me. I've been told this is THE place to come for splicing help.

I have seen instructions for splicing 8 and even 12 braid anchor line to chain but I have 24 braid that I want to re-splice to chain. Is it simply a matter of collecting braids together to form 8 or 12 braids or is it more complex than that? If collecting braids together is the answer do I need to make sure the collected strands are all Z or S strands?

I'm afraid I don't know the manufacturer and as the rope is on the boat in Portugal and I am now back in the UK I can't even post a picture. Suffice to say it is made up of 12 pairs of braids and is about 1.25 inches in diameter. It is definitely a proper loose multi braid marine job not a climbing rope. At present one end of it is sliced rather messily to the first 5 or 6 links of the 5/8" chain which doesn't look enough to me? I want to reverse it so the 'good end' is used rather than the end that has already seen some use.

I'm keen to do this right as it will have Petronella attached to it and is most likely to be used in bad conditions when maximum scope is required. I don't want to find out then that the splice is the weak link!

Thanks for any help you can give.

John

[Brian Duff]

perhaps for an investment as large as Petronella must be (using 1-1/4" rope and 5/8" chain! ) and considering the number of lives that might be onboard a craft that size, you should consider an all chain anchoring system - unless there is specific reason you wish to keep the weight off the boat. HOw big is the boat and where is it used?

The messy splice you mention is likely what is known as shovel splice and is a common way to attach line to chain. It is not really so strong as far as I am aware - logic says as much becasue the strands cannot all carry even load with that splice. The way to achieve maximum strength is to use a thimble in an eye splice, and attach the line/thimble to the chain with a shackle or swivel. Be sure to use a captive thimble so there is no chance of the timble comming loose.

As far as how to do the splice - either a bury splice or tuck splice will have to be used. I presume the line is a single braid ? Not knowing what brand of line and so how the manufacture recommends splicing it, I would start with attempting a bury splice. If this will not go in then following the 'Mega-Braid' instructions might work as your description of the line loosely fits that type, except for more strands.

?

[Petronella]

Yes, I think it is a 'shovel splice' at present and interestingly this is the method of connection recommended for joining chain to rope elsewhere and what I was hoping to repeat, not least because it is easier to work over the gypsy/capstan. It is also the connection method that seems to be most common on similar boats and I was not aware of the downside you pointed out. So, even more food for thought!

I've checked the chain size and it is actually 1/2", rather than 5/8". Petronella is a 39' steel, 15 tonne long keeled Joshua ketch currently in Portugal.

Regards
John

[Brian Duff]

WOAH!

1/2" chain and 1-1/4" rope on a 39' Joshua !

WE cruised for years and years on a 39' Ingrid with all 3/8" and found that to be ideal. 1/2" is heavy ! 1-1/4" is ridiculous !

Try out 3/8" chain and 5/8" rope. OR all chain.

The shovel splice will be fine considering how eversize the gear is for that boat. I was thinking we were talking 80-100' boat with the sizes you were talking earlier....

[Renoir]

Consider making up a double-braid polyester/Dacron"interface" between the last link of the chain and an eye splice in the rode. I've found this to be fairly bulletproof. Simply make an eye splice in the double-braid to the chain (carefully dress down any anomalies in the surface of the chain zinc and cover with sailtape) then make an eye in the other end of the "interface" piece and join the rode to that. The eyes will present almost 100% load rating and will be balanced.

The length of the double-braid needs to be sufficiently long so as to be able to easily run home both eye splices...probably 8 ft minimum, more is better. If the eye in the rode is large enough you can hand an entire crate of rode through it so that one doesn't have to laborously pass the entire rode linearly throught the double-braid eye before pulling tight.

The double-braid polyester does not stretch and chafe on the chain like nylon can.