Halyard Shackles

[Mike Little]

I am getting ready to replace my jib, main and spinaker halyards on my CD28. The outer sheathing on the main halyard broke as I was raising my main a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone had the experience of putting an eye splice in the end of a halyard? How much skill is required? What kind of tool did you use? Should I do it myself, or should I just let West Marine put the splice in when I order the line? I'd like to reuse the shackles on the old halyards, rather than purchasing new. It looks like the snap shackles for the jib and spinaker run over $30 each. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.



M.Little@telops.gte.com

[Bill]

Hi Mike

I have tied several eyes in sta-set and it is as easy as the splicing wand I've used. I have had a couple different ones, and have yet to find one that I thinks works well. They are not that difficult if you have the right size tool (lets keep this out of the gutter), and for halyards (I suppose yours are at least 3/8" if not 7/16").

You might see if the store in Dallas can do it for you.

We sure have had some good weather, while the coasts have been hammered eah>>>

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

I am getting ready to replace my jib, main and spinaker halyards on my CD28. The outer sheathing on the main halyard broke as I was raising my main a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone had the experience of putting an eye splice in the end of a halyard? How much skill is required? What kind of tool did you use? Should I do it myself, or should I just let West Marine put the splice in when I order the line? I'd like to reuse the shackles on the old halyards, rather than purchasing new. It looks like the snap shackles for the jib and spinaker run over $30 each. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

willie@clnk.com

[John]

I am getting ready to replace my jib, main and spinaker halyards on my CD28. The outer sheathing on the main halyard broke as I was raising my main a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone had the experience of putting an eye splice in the end of a halyard? How much skill is required? What kind of tool did you use? Should I do it myself, or should I just let West Marine put the splice in when I order the line? I'd like to reuse the shackles on the old halyards, rather than purchasing new. It looks like the snap shackles for the jib and spinaker run over $30 each. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mike, I've done several of my own splices but I've found that unless you do them on a regular basis it really is more trouble than its worth. I've let West's rigging do the last two I needed done. I had them use my old hardware and no problem from them on doing that. I did however insist that they stitch the splice at the crossover inside the splice ( contrary to popular belief a splice can come undone ) along with whipping the throat of the splice when finished. They did a great job and not worth my time doing it myself since I purchase the cordage from them anyway. It is prudent however that you do know how to do a splice in the event you need to take care of a problem while out cruising, etc. I learned by watching a Brian Toss video and using Yale splicing fids. The one thing I've learned that makes finishing off a splice quite easy and not a struggle is to hang the eye of the splice from a stout hook while pulling down hard on the standing part of the line, it compresses the bulk of the splice and makes it very easy to slide the cover up and over the splice which is where most people that have problems doing splices have their problem. I know that West is getting a little pricey for their splices these days so I guess one needs to evaluate what one's time is worth.

[Dana]

I am getting ready to replace my jib, main and spinaker halyards on my CD28. The outer sheathing on the main halyard broke as I was raising my main a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone had the experience of putting an eye splice in the end of a halyard? How much skill is required? What kind of tool did you use? Should I do it myself, or should I just let West Marine put the splice in when I order the line? I'd like to reuse the shackles on the old halyards, rather than purchasing new. It looks like the snap shackles for the jib and spinaker run over $30 each. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

_____________________________________________________________________

I use a Sampson "Fid" and "Pusher". The pusher is good for all size line. The fid is specific for the line size. I have never had a problem following the instructions with the fid and the job has always come out very well. Because there are so many eye splices on the boat, I have found it worth while to know how to do it.

Dana



darenius@aol.com

[steve alarcon]

I do my own splicing; feel that it is part of the "tradition" of sailing. I use the Brion Toss fid that West Marine sells. Fairly expensive tool, but really works well. If you get one, have a contest with your sailing friends to see who can guess what it is!

That being said, I agree with all that has been offered in the other responses. However, a friend once offered me the opinion that it is equally acceptable to use a bowline on the shackle instead of splicing, as it readily allows swapping the line end for end. I think that makes sense also. I would make sure the bitter end is secured appropriately though.

Steve Alarcon
CD30 Temerity
Seattle



alarcon@internetmci.com

[john churchill]

I am getting ready to replace my jib, main and spinaker halyards on my CD28. The outer sheathing on the main halyard broke as I was raising my main a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone had the experience of putting an eye splice in the end of a halyard? How much skill is required? What kind of tool did you use? Should I do it myself, or should I just let West Marine put the splice in when I order the line? I'd like to reuse the shackles on the old halyards, rather than purchasing new. It looks like the snap shackles for the jib and spinaker run over $30 each. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

i am with dana. i replaced every bit of SKUA's running rigging myself this fall. i did all the splices with the samson device. it is nice clean uncramped indoor work which i found enjoyable. all the splices look fine except one (which i may redo) on the topping lift. i found it rewarding to develop a new skill, and the learning process allows me to discount my time to 25 cents an hour. my first splice took about 45 min, my last about 20 min. get an extra couple of feet of line to practice to build confidence.



bone2@norfolk.infi.net

[Mike Little]

I am getting ready to replace my jib, main and spinaker halyards on my CD28. The outer sheathing on the main halyard broke as I was raising my main a couple of weeks ago. Has anyone had the experience of putting an eye splice in the end of a halyard? How much skill is required? What kind of tool did you use? Should I do it myself, or should I just let West Marine put the splice in when I order the line? I'd like to reuse the shackles on the old halyards, rather than purchasing new. It looks like the snap shackles for the jib and spinaker run over $30 each. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all for the great feedback. I think I will take Dana's (and other's) advice and learn a new skill. Seems a little foolish to farm out work that a person should be able to do him/herself. There may be a time when there is no West Marine just down the street.......

Mike



M.Little@telops.gte.com

[Geoff Safron]

Hi, Mike;
I can speak for the Compleat Idiot among us, and say that eye splices can be done by the common man. Get (if you don't already own) a copy of Royce's Sailing Illustrated. Pat Royce details a 25-something-step eye-splice procedure that can be successfully maneuvered even if you don't have a clue what you're doing at the time. I've done six beautiful splices per Royce's, including my very first one, and I'm getting to the point where I only refer to the book once or twice per splice. Don't pay extra, do it yourself. You'll beam with pride as you raise sail.
If for some reason you can't find Royce's book, let me know and I'll attatch scans of the pertinent pages.
Geoff



Pixel179@AOL.com