Hand Spliced Standing Rigging

[bottomscraper]

Nice work and a beautiful boat. I do have isuues with this statement:

Certainly less expensive and stronger over its life cycle than contemporary sewage or compression terminal fittings.

Maybe it's less expensive if you don't count labor, the cost of a splicing vise, extra wire to make the splice, extra wire to practice and the bronze thimbles. Using 7x7 wire of the same size and material is weaker than 1x19 and since each wire is smaller it will be more likely to make "fish hooks".

Personally I will stick with Sta-Lok and 1x19. The Sta-Lok fittings are reusable (except for inexpensive wedge) and they are much easier to install. The only tools required are two wrenches, good hacksaw, ruler, Sharpie and an knife. They are at least as strong as the wire.

http://www.sailmahalo.com/picture_colle ... ngStaloks/

[John Stone]

Hi Rich
I don’t know what the cost is if you include the labor. But there is labor cost in having a rigger install sta-locs too. I don’t count the cost of labor since that’s the whole point of doing it yourself.

Bronze thimbles are about half the cost of sta-locs...and are reusable as well. The cost of the vise new was $200. I can’t say for sure what the cost is now but my 316 SS 5/16” 7x7 was a little less expensive than 316 9/32 when I built my rig in 2014-2015. And 1x19 requires exactly the right size sta-loc to work. But I think I can now splice almost anywire or anysize that I might need on my boat—7x6, 7x7, 7x19 in imperial or metric. I have even read that 1x19 can be spliced though I think it is much harder to handle than 7x7. Someday I would like to attempt it just to see for myself.

Yes, you need to practice. Yes, practice requires wire. But I practiced on cheap wire. It takes about three feet of wire to make a practice splice. I had no real instruction. I mostly learned on my own—I sent pictures of my splices to Larry Pardey and Brion Toss and they critiqued them gratis. And I am a slow learner. So it took me about 50 hours of splicing before I started in on my rig. If you had someone show you, I think you could turn out a solid splice after 15-20 hours of practice. Most people watch more than 20 hours of TV per week.

Yes, 1x19 is stronger than similar sized SS 7x7. But here is the thing...it’s stronger when it’s new. Over time, hard terminals like swages and compression fittings work harden the wire where it exits the terminal. and then it loses strength. Eventually one of two things happens: the wire breaks where it emerges from the hard terminal or the the terminal fails. Hand spliced wire is a soft terminal. It flexes. There is little to no work hardening. How long will it last? I don’t know. But there are examples of properly cared for galvanized spliced rigging that has lasted as long as 40 years.

My rigging is three years old. I have about 4000 miles on it. 3500 offshore. I have not had a single fish hook. And my splices are not served...which many professional riggers like Myles Thurlow prefer. A served splice will not have fish hooks. But, I like the look of the naked splice. And on SS servicing is not required. I can inspect the splice with a glance. You can’t tell what’s going on inside a compression fitting or swage.

And, then there is the aesthetic quality of the splice over the hard terminal. There is no doubt whatsoever that a spliced thimble looks much better on the Falmouth Cutter than a compression fitting. Looks better on my boat too. But, I admit that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I don’t think there is a thing wrong with a compression fitting. It’s a great choice for the vast majority of sailors for all the reasons you state. Under certain conditions I might use them too. But for those that want to take a different path, the Liverpool splice has a lot going for it. It’s all about choices. This whole thread was not meant to covert anyone. Just to offer an alternative from that which nearly all sailing books, riggers, or the marine industry, writ large, tries to convince people is the right and only choice.

[JD-MDR]

Yea John!!!. I wish I had your talent and patience, Doing stuff is just plain fun.

[John Stone]

Kaj Jakobson has completed a series of entries on his blog detailing the building of his fantastic Lyle Hess designed 34’ Falmouth Cutter Astrid.

This is the boat I was privileged to work on in British Columbia this past month. It is a work of art. Anyway, the website details the whole build. You might find it enjoyable to look over the pictures and gain some insight into what was involved with turning out such a wonderful boat, from casting the lead ballast, to designing and constructing the interior, to installing the Silver Bali deck, to building the Sitka Spruce Spar, to rigging the boat.

http://knjwoodworking.blogspot.com/2018/08/rigging.html

[John Stone]

Kaj Jakobson sent me a few photos of his boat Astrid yesterday. He was able to sail a bit too and is planning a short local cruise. Anyway, below is a better picture of the splices than I took so I attached it below for those interested. It also show a bit more detail of Astrid.

[Jim Walsh]

Stunning.

[Frenchy]

Yes, the boat, the workmanship, the splices are all beyond superlative. It's like when a man falls in love and all
obstacles and pain fall away to get to his love. There's no compromises, no half-efforts there. The rest of us,
like myself, have to deal with practicalities and do the best we can. - Jean

[John Stone]

It's like when a man falls in love and all
obstacles and pain fall away to get to his love. There's no compromises, no half-efforts there.

True enough. Women and boats. That’s when we get stupid ... even when we are convinced we are being careful and reasonable.

[mgphl52]

True enough. Women and boats. That’s when we get stupid ... even when we are convinced we are being careful and reasonable.

Yep!