Halyard Eye Splices Revisited

Greetings,

Well, my spectra running back project went well so I'm headed onward and upward. I want to make a new spinnaker halyard. I certainly want to be able to end for end the halyard when it gets older. Brion mentions in the Rigger's Apprentice how hard it is to splice old line so it seems it would be good to splice an eye in both ends when the line is new. I'm pretty certain that the smaller spectra line will make for an eye splice that I'll be able to reeve through the existing block OK. The question I have is: How do you handle the shackle? Most splicing instructions show how to permanently splice the shackle on but I haven't seen anything to make them removable.

Not too long ago, Brion mentioned ring hitching the spectra eye splice in a life line to one of the new Johnson fittings. I'm not sure what a ring hitch is. By any chance, is it when you pass the eye of the splice through the center of a ring, then spread the eye and pull it back over the ring? I've also been told you shouldn't tie knots in spectra because it weakens the line considerably. Is the ring hitch OK where a knot is not? If not, how do you successfully end for end?

Lastly, is a cow hitch the same thing as a ring hitch? I've seen it referenced several times on this site. Sorry, I don't have the Ashley Book of Knots.

Thank you and pardon my ignorance,

Greg Rodgers

[NickfromWI]

Yes, that's a ring hitch, girth hitch and larks head all in one!

If you are splicing single braid spectra, depending on specifically how it's made, used is VERY splicable.

What rope, specifically, are you using or planning to use?

love
nick

[Greg Rodgers]

I am using Sta Set T-900. It's a Technora/Spectra blend with a polyester cover.

Thanks,

Greg Rodgers

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
First, a Spectra spinnaker halyard is on the non-stretchy side for many boats; a little elasticity can be a good thing where shock loads happen, as on spinnakers and mainsheets. But if you are sure you need HM rope, bear in mind that, unlike double-braid Dacron, all the strength is in the core, so chafe to the cover isn't structrural. Add to that the fact that the cover on HM is much tougher, plus that there will in any event be far less chafe (less stretch = less movement on block sheave and mast entrance and exit), so you might be better off, for cost as well as performance, with a hybrid halyard, Dacron at the bitter end, and HM above the winch.
Or you could just splice both ends of the T-900.
As for the Ring (Lark's Head, Girth, Tete de Alouette, and God help me, Luggage Tag) Hitch, it doesn't weaken the line significantly, as the effective radius is greater, and both sides are loaded.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss