How to make the best loop...

[jpichler]

Hi folks, I am trying to figure out how to make a good looking loop on some 5/16 leaded rope for the upcomming crabbing and shrimping season. As some of you may have picked up on I can be very particular and dont want to just tie an overhand knot and be done with it.

for (metal) wire rope you can get these swaging tools and little metal crimpy bits that allow you to make a loop or eye on the end and I am curious if anything like that exist for regular rope...or does it simply work on the rope I am contemplating.

my thought is that it will not, since my rope will compress much further than regular wire rope.

any thoughts?

--Jurgen

 

[walldog]

Hi folks, I am trying to figure out how to make a good looking loop on some 5/16 leaded rope for the upcomming crabbing and shrimping season. As some of you may have picked up on I can be very particular and dont want to just tie an overhand knot and be done with it.

for (metal) wire rope you can get these swaging tools and little metal crimpy bits that allow you to make a loop or eye on the end and I am curious if anything like that exist for regular rope...or does it simply work on the rope I am contemplating.

my thought is that it will not, since my rope will compress much further than regular wire rope.

any thoughts?

--Jurgen

Bowline
http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/in ... dknots.com

 

[Todd]

Check out "EZ SPLICE" available at West Marine. In there catalog on top of page 235.

 

[mspaugy]

depending on the exact type line you have splicing a loop isn't that difficult with instructions in hand.

 

[NewMoon]

Is it three-strand? I put eye-splices on my crab and shrimp lines - very neat and trouble free. With a fairly large loop I connect or disconnect a float easily, and add or remove sections to alter the length of shrimp lines.

If you haven't done three-strand splicing, it's not too tough. To make it as easy as possible, get a "Point Hudson Phid" from Brion Toss, author of the Chapman's guide to knots and splices. With this tool and a little practice you can be comfortable that your splices are good.

http://www.briontoss.com/catalog/splicinggear.html

This is basically the same skill you need to do the shackle splice of rope to chain for your anchor rode.

 

[tlkenyon]

Tie a bowline knot and seize the end to the standing part. Easy, secure and (IMHO) good looking.

 

[SlackwaterJack]

Tie a bowline knot and seize the end to the standing part. Easy, secure and (IMHO) good looking.

You can use shrink tube (comes in colors) to seize, plus I find the knot aids with accuracy when tossing one end to someone.

 

[tlkenyon]

Shrink tubing is easy and colorful, and works for a while, but I find a marline seizing to be very satisfying and very salty. Kinda like a turks head at the cardinal location on the wheel.