News

[Brion Toss]

Hello everyone,
First, we've had a goodly number of entries to the current Puzzler, but so far no one has gotten both of the likely answers. Try some more, those of you who've already entered, and come on and give it a shot, all of you who are hanging back.
Practical Sailor has a piece on splicing tools in the current issue. The Wand fared well, but I am astonished to say that the Selma Fids fared better. Now I have a bit of a warped perspective here, but I have used those fids, and I think they are a bother, at least compared to our tool. I can only deduce, from reading the article, that the testers were trying to snare too much rope, and encountering difficulties thereby. Interesting article anyway.
The annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival is just around the corner. As always it's the weekend after Labor Day; if any of you plan to be in the area it is an event that you will enjoy immensely. This year my friend and fellow rigger Guy Stevens and his spouse Melissa will be up for a visit, so why not stop by and we'll all swap stories?
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[NickfromWI]

I've not seen the fids before, but looking at their website makes me NOT want them! I just simply don't like their splicing direction for hollowbraid (involves tying a knot in the eye) and the double-braid involves NOT burying the core past the eye.

The tool looks alright. I'm not sure it's better than the Wand, though!

love
nick

[Brion Toss]

Yikes, Nick!
You're right, they don't bury the core! This is a potentially dangerous splice, the kind of thing that leads to failures on the weak side, which is why responsible directions always show the core being buried (about 14 rope diameters). I'll just bet that the Selma fids are too fat to get the core down into the cover. I doubt that Practical Sailor knew about this, but the article is already out.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss