I recently came into ownership of a Lewmar Pro Fish 700 windlass. It came with a 200 foot length of 8 plait nylon line that has been deployed exactly one time in 30 feet of water. I need more length than that so am trying to find out if anyone has tried feeding a splice through the Pro Fish 700 and if so, how did it go? I hate to trash 200 feet of good line if a simple end slice will save it.
Splicing anchor rode
- Thread starter Halfhitch
- Start date
At first I said, 'No Way'. Who would want to take a chance of the splice letting go. Then I thought about the splice trying to go through the capstan. Then I thought about it and had an idea assuming you can splice or know someone who can.
Splice a short length of appropriate chain to the end of the existing rope and then splice the new rope to the other end of the chain 'splice'. You would only need a 6 inch chain section. We know that properly spliced rope and chain will work on the windlass so I guess my idea may work out OK.
Splice a short length of appropriate chain to the end of the existing rope and then splice the new rope to the other end of the chain 'splice'. You would only need a 6 inch chain section. We know that properly spliced rope and chain will work on the windlass so I guess my idea may work out OK.
I have the Profish 1000 with 5/8 8-plait. I have only done 8-plait splices to chain, they are time consuming, but not too difficult. Most 8-plait splices are tapered and should work fine if tapered and done smoothly. The end to end splices should go thru the gypsy (wildcat) the same as the chain splice. The size of your wildcat may determine how well it works. It is also probably a function of the size of your anchor rode and wildcat (gypsy). Does rode and chain size match the wildcat? The size is typically etched on the side of the drum. I would guess that the larger sizes (there are several sizes for the 700, dependent on chain size) would handle the end to end splice just fine.
I can't find any articles or videos showing a rope to rope splice for anchor line. That doesn't mean there isn't such a thing but I have reservations about the concept.
I just feel that in general the splice might be weak. When splicing to chain or a thimble, the strands go around the device and back towards the standing end of the rope forming a loop. There are multiple loops actually and as the rope is put under tension, the loop ends get tighter. If one did a rope to rope splice, I would expect any loops just intertwined strands. Maybe that would work, I don't know.
All fisherman know knots for line to line splices but I don't think they would work with the windlass.
I did find this video for splicing 3 strand rope. I suppose 8 strand would also work with some more complexity. The end product splice looks like it might pass through a capstan. Can't tell for certain
video.search.yahoo.com
I just feel that in general the splice might be weak. When splicing to chain or a thimble, the strands go around the device and back towards the standing end of the rope forming a loop. There are multiple loops actually and as the rope is put under tension, the loop ends get tighter. If one did a rope to rope splice, I would expect any loops just intertwined strands. Maybe that would work, I don't know.
All fisherman know knots for line to line splices but I don't think they would work with the windlass.
I did find this video for splicing 3 strand rope. I suppose 8 strand would also work with some more complexity. The end product splice looks like it might pass through a capstan. Can't tell for certain
splicing rope - Yahoo Video Search Results
The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.
video.search.yahoo.com
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2006
- Messages
- 3,027
- Reaction score
- 1,351
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Berea, KY/Cross, SC
- Model
- Seafarer
End-to-end is a smaller, and smoother splice than back splicing onto chain, and I would think stronger, but the chain link should work. It is a clever idea. I think the end splice is done in 4 pairs on each end, rather than 8 individual strands.
The back splice has loops, for sure, but there is the point where they rub on the chain link that is only 8 strands. End-to-end has 16 strand at every point, until the end of the taper. All splices work om the Chinese handcuff principle, the harder you pull, the tighter they get.
I found a commercial poly tow rope floating in about 40 feet, with the big shackle still on the bottom. It was a 3 strand 'splice', which was all 3 strands tucked under one strand, repeated 3 times, about a foot apart.
The back splice has loops, for sure, but there is the point where they rub on the chain link that is only 8 strands. End-to-end has 16 strand at every point, until the end of the taper. All splices work om the Chinese handcuff principle, the harder you pull, the tighter they get.
I found a commercial poly tow rope floating in about 40 feet, with the big shackle still on the bottom. It was a 3 strand 'splice', which was all 3 strands tucked under one strand, repeated 3 times, about a foot apart.
Last edited:
I have had my rode extended I use 5/8” and no problems at all. My father is a retired lobsterman and he can splice in his sleep so he did it for me. It’s an art that takes years of practice
Hookup1
GreatGrady Captain
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,035
- Reaction score
- 855
- Points
- 113
- Age
- 70
- Location
- Cape May, NJ
- Model
- Islander
Where you are located you should be able to find a good marine supplier who can do the splice for you. If its done right you should not have a problem with strength or passing the splice.
8 strand class 2 end-to-end splice instructions from machovec.com
- strand class 2 end to end splice step by step instructions.
www.machovec.com
Good info. When I have nothing better to do someday, I am going to try splicing 3 strand to 3 strand. I spliced a 3 strand anchor line to my chain last year and although it looked easy in the video, I had to redo it at least 3 times and it still didn't end up looking like the splice in the video but it still worked
IMO 3 Strand is much easier than 8-plait which is almost the opposite tucks for reasons I have yet to fully understand. I've gotten fairly good at the 8-plait rode to chain splice, my last one even looked professional. The key is practice and keeping the strands labeled and un-frayed. I have never done the end-to-end with 8-plait, but my guess it is the same tuck pattern. One trick is to roll each tuck with your foot before going to the next and keep the strands twisted like the original, just enough to let them lay into the splice smoothly.
Thanks for all the input fellas. Doing the splice is no problem. The last twenty or so years of my work was on dredges, tug boats and such, handling rock and spoils. We regularly spliced wire rope (cable) up to 2 inch diameter and soft lines both three strand and 8 plait eyes that were mostly 9 inch circumference line. We did long splices on the 3 strand where only one strand is tucked at any one location, then the rope was unlayed and relayed several feet to the next strand. This made the long splice about 15 to 20 feet long on those big lines but it kept the diameter more reasonable for handling. I know of no way to do a long splice on 8 plait so working with 1/2 inch , the end to end is going to be pushing 1 inch. If a person applies tension and hammers with a soft mallet it may get down to 3/4 to 7/8 maybe, and of course it would be tapered. The question I have is, will that diameter pass over the gypsie? wspliter, you sound pretty confident it will pass.
I've never done an end-to-end with 8-plait, but here's my theory. Look at the chain splice and as you suggested, I think it will not quite be double the diameter. Shouldn't an end-to-end splice have essentially the same diameter as the big part of the chain splice? The gypsy handles that splice fine, just before picking up the chain. I think the taper is the key. As an aside, I've found that large lines like you are used to are actually easier to splice, much bigger fid. One of my longer 8-plait to chain splices would slip on the gypsy with light loads occasionally. If the gypsy is worn with sharp edges, it does wear away the the splice some over time, but it actually grips better going over the splice If the rode is in tension, it helps the grip and the taper allows it to get started. I recently went to SS chain and, given the same size chain, I was amazed how much smoother it picks up and handles the chain. Good Luck and let us know what you decide!
Halfhitch, does the 200' have any chain attached. How deep do you anchor, how often, and how much rode do you want to end up with? If more than 400', I would splice a longer rode with chain to the 200', and put the longer rode on the anchor end.
The chain splice is the same size as the end splice, but only for 2 or 3 tucks, until it is tapered the first time, and I doubt that that first inch or two is ever the only thing the gypsy is pulling on. An end splice would have twice as much fat, before it is tapered, and that might be long enough to slip above the teeth, before the gypsy grabs the rode behind the splice.
I would see if the fat part of the splice actually engages the teeth, at its widest point, or if the gypsy is still pulling on the thinner part of the rode until the first chain link engages.
The rode has to stay engaged with the teeth to the bottom of the turn, not just run across the top. I am not confident that a foot or more of end splice would be flexible enough to do that.
The chain splice is the same size as the end splice, but only for 2 or 3 tucks, until it is tapered the first time, and I doubt that that first inch or two is ever the only thing the gypsy is pulling on. An end splice would have twice as much fat, before it is tapered, and that might be long enough to slip above the teeth, before the gypsy grabs the rode behind the splice.
I would see if the fat part of the splice actually engages the teeth, at its widest point, or if the gypsy is still pulling on the thinner part of the rode until the first chain link engages.
The rode has to stay engaged with the teeth to the bottom of the turn, not just run across the top. I am not confident that a foot or more of end splice would be flexible enough to do that.
Last edited:
Thanks wspliter and glacierbaze for the meaningful thoughts. I need to add at least another 200 feet to give a total of 400. I think I will go ahead and do it. If it doesn't work then I will just have some odd general purpose line laying around. I will report.
Every few years I swap ends of my rode to keep the wear even. Also keeps my 8-plait splicing skills sharper!