Splice double braid til to amsteel blue

[John Stone]

How do I splice a 10mm double braid tail to a 3/16" amsteel blue topping lift?

Background: My current topping lift is 10 mm double braid. It also serves as a spare halyard. I'd like to replace the 10mm double braid topping lift with 3/16". I'd like the amsteel to run from the end of my boom, where it currently attaches, up to the masthead sheave, down the inside of my mast, exit through the halyard exit box, and to the belaying pin, which is on a pin rack attached to the mast. But, (there is always a but isn't there?) I'd like to splice the amsteel to some of that same double braid, to match the rest of my double braid halyard tails, as well as, and more importantly, to allow me to grip the thicker double braid for adjusting the topping lift as well as to cleat it securely to the belaying pin, or standard cleat as the situation dictates. Because the topping lift will likely never be used as a spare main halyard (though it could be) I thought the double braid tail could be pretty short. Perhaps spiced into the amsteel just inside the halyard exit box with a tail about 10' long.

I have searched the archives, looked on the internet but have not seemed to find what I m looking for. There is lots of info about installing a cover over dyneema and removing the cover from dyneema but nothing about splicing these two different lines together.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks.

[allene]

I have instructions on how to do this on my web site. Several people have done it and found it to work for their needs. However, we have all experienced some "hernias" of the Amsteel through the cover of the double braid in the splice. It seems to be just cosmetic. I don't personally use this but rather found the hernias in testing which put about 1000 pounds on 1/8 Amsteel to 1/4 inch StaSet. You are unlikely to see this kind of load on a topping lift.

The "official" way to do this is to have interlocking eye splices but you would have a fairly large increase in line diameter at the area of the splice.

http://L-36.com/halyard_splice.php

[Stumble]

Allen,

I have tried this splice a number of times and never got it to come out well. Would it be possible for you to post a video of you doing it? I have a number of places I would like to use it, but don't feel comfortable in doing it yet.

[allene]

I agree that this splice is difficult to do. I don't use it myself and for your application I would think interlocking eye splices would be the way to go.

There are 30 photos on my web site showing the different steps. Which one are you having trouble with? Maybe I can give some pointers. Personally I have moved on from this splice to better ways to make a halyard so I will probably not be making another one and thus no opportunity to make video. Sorry.

[Stumble]

Allene,

I am planning on using it for a furling line so it has to be continuious diameter, or close. An eye-eye won't work. I think I may just buy some Tenex and core it with dyneema, but I was hoping to learn something new.

I think it was the step where the a steel is buried. But I can't remember now. I am going to have to try one and won't have the time for a few days.

[allene]

I thought you were making a topping lift. For a furling line, maybe just use the Tenex without the core. It is pretty strong stuff by itself. Make sure you get the white. The colors rub off.