• OT: Marlin Spike

    From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to All on Wed Nov 13 16:22:14 2024
    Is there a way to put a marlin spike loop mid span in a section of
    twisted rope without tying a knot in it?

    Back in the winter of 1980/81 I took a small craft and seamanship course
    from the USCGA (D-9) with my Uncle Paul. I learned how to back splice, straight splice, and how to loop splice the ends of a rope, but I'd like
    to make a tow harness for a boat that centers the load on both rear tie
    down rings. Ideally with a float before the loop, and the splice
    extending further than the length of the float. All I've ever used is
    loop splices in the real world, but I could figure out the others quick
    enough if I had to.

    The only thing I can think if is to make two loops through the float
    with two different pieces of rope.

    I'd like to be able to quickly clip each end on to one of the tie down
    rings on a small (relatively) craft and toss the float straight off the
    back for a tow line to clip onto. This is not intended for skiing. Its intended for towing a disable watercraft. In some cases one much
    heavier than the tow craft.

    For water skiing the ideal setup is to come off a pole well above the
    deck with a single line on a mount that can swing easily. I have one,
    although I have never used it. Never was able to ski more than a couple hundred yards without turning myself into a torpedo.

    Untwisting and retwisting a long section of rope really is not an
    answer. I want to do this with nylon rope and it doesn't tend to
    retwist very well. The only reason a loop splice works with it is
    because tensions clamps the strands to each other after its woven.
    Well, and I also lightly melt the ends so they stick in place.

    The only other thing I can think if is lashing (whipping?) with a light
    cord instead of splicing. I'm not sure I am a fan.

    Yeah I know how silly that all sounds.

    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Joe Gwinn@21:1/5 to muratlanne@gmail.com on Thu Nov 14 10:28:41 2024
    On Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:08:29 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
    <muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:

    "Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:vh3cb6$2ebtd$1@dont-email.me...

    Is there a way to put a marlin spike loop mid span in a section of
    twisted rope without tying a knot in it?

    Back in the winter of 1980/81 I took a small craft and seamanship course
    from the USCGA (D-9) with my Uncle Paul. I learned how to back splice, >straight splice, and how to loop splice the ends of a rope, but I'd like
    to make a tow harness for a boat that centers the load on both rear tie
    down rings. Ideally with a float before the loop, and the splice
    extending further than the length of the float. All I've ever used is
    loop splices in the real world, but I could figure out the others quick >enough if I had to.

    The only thing I can think if is to make two loops through the float
    with two different pieces of rope.

    I'd like to be able to quickly clip each end on to one of the tie down
    rings on a small (relatively) craft and toss the float straight off the
    back for a tow line to clip onto. This is not intended for skiing. Its >intended for towing a disable watercraft. In some cases one much
    heavier than the tow craft.

    For water skiing the ideal setup is to come off a pole well above the
    deck with a single line on a mount that can swing easily. I have one, >although I have never used it. Never was able to ski more than a couple >hundred yards without turning myself into a torpedo.

    Untwisting and retwisting a long section of rope really is not an
    answer. I want to do this with nylon rope and it doesn't tend to
    retwist very well. The only reason a loop splice works with it is
    because tensions clamps the strands to each other after its woven.
    Well, and I also lightly melt the ends so they stick in place.

    Inline splicing of one line into the midspan of the other works well
    in nylon 3-strand laid rope, and the better the rope quality the
    better and easier splicing works.

    Typically, the splice length must be at least six weaves long,
    allowing all the stresses and strains to level out.

    Knots tend to weaken the lines.

    Look in the Ashley Book of Knots for the possibilities.

    .<https://ia800506.us.archive.org/32/items/TheAshleyBookOfKnots/the%20ashley%20book%20of%20knots.pdf>


    The only other thing I can think if is lashing (whipping?) with a light
    cord instead of splicing. I'm not sure I am a fan.

    Yeah I know how silly that all sounds.

    No way will lashing be strong enough or enduring.

    Joe

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Thu Nov 14 12:45:13 2024
    On 11/13/2024 6:08 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

    If you are set on splicing you might splice the ends of a "grommet"
    within the rope.

    A variant of the Prusik knot can be tied in the middle of a rope to add
    a loop. It looks somewhat like the Alpine Butterfly, with more turns
    around the rope on either side of the loop.

    This calls it a dropper knot.
    https://www.animatedknots.com/dropper-loop-knot

    I am familiar with a dropper loop. In days past I often used it to
    attached a hook leader to a mainline with a pass through loop. I'm not
    an expert on all common fishing knots, but I know a fair number of them.
    As you note the leads are psuhed away from each other with the style
    of the knot, but I would still consider it except as Joe notes in his
    reply knots do tend to weaken line. Yes I have watched every single
    episode or Berkley's Knot Wars series where they compare the strength of various knots in the three most common types of fishing line, and saw
    the claim that some knots were "more than" 100% of line strength. Those
    are all freshly tied knots cinched down and stressed to breaking. I
    assure you the knot affects line strength over time.



    A figure eight loop might be better since your two ends are angled
    instead of pulled straight.

    A figure 8 knot or even a surgeons loop has an affect on line strength.
    In a pinch they are options as is simply tying the rope to the tow point
    and losing a few inches with a knife when you are done.


    If you want to impress someone you could pre-mark the center of the
    sling with tape and tie it to the single tow line with a Carrick Bend.

    I have a couple goals, but one of them is to be obvious in use to
    somebody who is not as familiar with it. I'd like to make one and give
    it to an air boat operator who pulled me off a sand bar last year, and
    to throw one in each of the boats I use regularly myself as a permanents
    single purpose bridle. It will equalize towing, and also (with the
    float) reduce the likelihood of prop fouling when working with a less
    skilled boater.

    My favorite how'd-he-do-that? is dropping a clove hitch over a bollard
    in one smooth quick motion by grabbing the line with arms crossed.

    I would like to see that. I tend to tie off mostly to cleats. You just
    stack a couple opposing half hitches for a short term tie off. Not the
    knot persay, but the cross arm drop.

    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Joe Gwinn on Thu Nov 14 12:51:13 2024
    On 11/14/2024 8:28 AM, Joe Gwinn wrote:
    On Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:08:29 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
    <muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:

    "Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:vh3cb6$2ebtd$1@dont-email.me...

    Is there a way to put a marlin spike loop mid span in a section of
    twisted rope without tying a knot in it?

    Back in the winter of 1980/81 I took a small craft and seamanship course >>from the USCGA (D-9) with my Uncle Paul. I learned how to back splice,
    straight splice, and how to loop splice the ends of a rope, but I'd like
    to make a tow harness for a boat that centers the load on both rear tie
    down rings. Ideally with a float before the loop, and the splice
    extending further than the length of the float. All I've ever used is
    loop splices in the real world, but I could figure out the others quick
    enough if I had to.

    The only thing I can think if is to make two loops through the float
    with two different pieces of rope.

    I'd like to be able to quickly clip each end on to one of the tie down
    rings on a small (relatively) craft and toss the float straight off the
    back for a tow line to clip onto. This is not intended for skiing. Its
    intended for towing a disable watercraft. In some cases one much
    heavier than the tow craft.

    For water skiing the ideal setup is to come off a pole well above the
    deck with a single line on a mount that can swing easily. I have one,
    although I have never used it. Never was able to ski more than a couple
    hundred yards without turning myself into a torpedo.

    Untwisting and retwisting a long section of rope really is not an
    answer. I want to do this with nylon rope and it doesn't tend to
    retwist very well. The only reason a loop splice works with it is
    because tensions clamps the strands to each other after its woven.
    Well, and I also lightly melt the ends so they stick in place.

    Inline splicing of one line into the midspan of the other works well
    in nylon 3-strand laid rope, and the better the rope quality the
    better and easier splicing works.

    I had not actually thought of using a second piece of rope to form a
    loop in the main line. I could even use that method to increase the
    strength of the loop itself so if it did break it would more likely be
    one of the lead lines. I could make it a tight loop, or leave a short
    regular twist for a float. That is a good idea. I had thought of using
    two main lines for the harness or bridle tied together with "hardware"
    but didn't really care for it.



    Typically, the splice length must be at least six weaves long,
    allowing all the stresses and strains to level out.

    Knots tend to weaken the lines.

    Look in the Ashley Book of Knots for the possibilities.

    .<https://ia800506.us.archive.org/32/items/TheAshleyBookOfKnots/the%20ashley%20book%20of%20knots.pdf>


    The only other thing I can think if is lashing (whipping?) with a light
    cord instead of splicing. I'm not sure I am a fan.

    Yeah I know how silly that all sounds.

    No way will lashing be strong enough or enduring.

    Enduring no. I have seen stuff lashed together and work, but the
    lashing almost always shows signs of failure if it has been used very
    many times. Usually it loosens up and starts to separate eventually
    leading to unwrapping.


    Joe


    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff

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