Samson Vs NE ropes splicing instructions

[Brion Toss]

Hi,
Tail lengths vary according to product strength, slickness, and construction. Samson's and New England's are based on "fid lengths," which in turn are based on 21x the rope diameter. I prefer the more easily-calculated multiples of 8x diameter. This does result in slightly longer tails, which in turn accommodates a longer, fairer taper, which I find more chafe- and jam-resistant, and more handsome than a blunt taper.
Splicing technique also varies, and you might also look at Yale's method for "Class II" splices, but the results are comparable. I find that Samson's double-exit is cumbersome, at least for the tools I use, and especially with good, tough rope.
So recommendation: long taper, with suitably long tail.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss