Spectra Lashing

[Bob Pingel]

I am working on a boat with running backs, the boat is a Nelson Marek 36. The actual backs are commerical covered Kevlar, and terminated into stainless eyes. There is then a short strop the connects a runner block. The block is tensioned with a 2:1 tackle to a winch.

My question involves the strop. It is 3' long and is currently made of 3/8" bare Spectra. There is an eye on each end. The eyes are formed with 3 brummels and then a 10" bury.

I need to replace these strops.

I see three options:

Duplicate the existing. This makes me nervous because of the short bury. I know the three brummels pick up a lot of load, but the bury seems way too short. Without a long overlap, I can't get even close to 96 diameters. Am I being too conservative on the bury?

Create a grommet of the right length. I think I can do this without breaking any rules.

Do a spectra lashing with say 1/8" 12-strand spectra. I would make a small eye splice and ring hitch to the top eye. I would then take maybe 8 turns. The finish is my question. I don't like the idea of half hitches in bare spectra. I could splice another eye and slip it onto the block the bottom of the lashing (the head pin is removeable) - after it is in place, I would balance up the turns to equalize load on all the parts. Regardless it seems right to place a seizing on each end of the lashing to hold things together.


Any ideas?

Thanks,

Bob