Tying UP The Loose Ends

[chris piazza]

I put a new thimble and shackle on my back up anchor and after braiding a new end what is the best way to finish the loose ends?

Chris
Superior Nights 53C

 

[Bob Bradley]

I usually burn them with a torch, then whip-finish the section, and finally coat the whipping cord with liquid siezing dip.

 

[chris piazza]

liquid seizing dip?

 

[rsmith]

Lowes or HD has liquid electrical tape in a can. Comes in different colors. I just dip the ends in the can. I burn the ends first tho just so they dont unravel. Nice to see someone knows marlin spike seamanship. I had an old Swedish guy taught me how to splice when I was 12. I have always done all my own lines. I had a premade 3/4"braided line snap like a rifleshot during Hurricane Frances I'd never have another braided line on the boat.

 

[bigbill]

chris, if you want the line to smooth out as the splice ends, cut each of the three splice pieces at different lengths, and continue splicing. this method will make the splice taper off rather than ending all at once.

 

[Passages]

I had a premade 3/4"braided line snap like a rifleshot during Hurricane Frances I'd never have another braided line on the boat.

Three strand will snap like a rifle too. Seen 3/4" let go when a boat was trying to pull a stuck log from a piling. You could see the shock wave radiate on the water surface 15' from the line. The line attached to the boat came rocketing back to the cockpit at a speed that would have caused injury.

 

[REBrueckner]

After firing each loose end with a torch, or over my gas stove top, I used to press the near liquid end flat with a wet knife or putty knife edge...

You have anough plice strands there that is will never pull thru anyway....three used to be standard for manilla, I usually did five with more slippery nylon....

that spreads it out like a mushroom cap and prevents it from pulling thru the splice...The is also "rope dip" available which probably is much like liquird electrical tape.....you can also whip/ seize.... the end tight with waxed nylon....wrapping it tight .....probably still available at marine stores....

 

[chris piazza]

I have some of the liquid electric "tape" but its black in color. I did consider to keep weaving it till I ran out of loose ends but that is a pain in the butt. I do have a little West System two part left over from another project and was considering a dab of that, but that may dry to brittle.

Chris
Superior Nights 53C