An Easier Way to Splice Double Braid

The first thing was that standard fids are hard to use. We make our own from the center strand of 1×19 rigging wire — you need a piece 18″ or so long. You can get one from the scrap pile at any rigging shop.

 

It all comes down to the fid. Simple.

The first thing was that standard fids are hard to use. We make our own from the center strand of 1×19 rigging wire — you need a piece 18″ or so long. You can get one from the scrap pile at any rigging shop. Fold it in half and tape the ends together. Make sure that the fold is a sharp 180° turn — the closer together the two wires, the easier it will be on the second fid pass.

 

You pull the core out of the cover. Next, you’re going to taper the cover. From Mark C, go one “fleck” towards the end of the line and pull two strands of the cover out on each side of the line. Do this at every fleck to the end of the line. It’ll look something like this (you can use a needle, paper clip or even the tip of a pen or pencil to Chain Link Fence. Cut them all off flush with the cover.

Then make Marks 1, 2 and 3.

Put the folded end of your homemade fid into the center of the core at Mark 3 and out at Mark 2.

Thread the tapered end of the cover through the “eye” of the fid.

Pull the fid back out through Mark 3 until Mark A on the cover (the mark just above where the taper starts) is at Mark 2 of the core (letter marks are on the cover, numbers on the core). Where Mark A and Mark 2 meet is called the crossover point. It’s critical that these marks line up, so put a needle or paperclip through the cover and core at this point.

Put the fid in at Mark D and out at Mark C. Be very careful to put the fid between the cover and core and not snag either one of them (snagging either one will make it almost impossible to get the core through). Thread the loose end of the core through the eye and pull the whole fid back to Mark D until the core comes out.

This is really tough. You’re going to say something along the lines of “I thought this was an easier way to splice!” Trust me, it’s considerably harder with a traditional fid. Just keep pulling. Every so often, stop and bend the line back and forth where the tip of the fid is — this will help loosen the cover. Still, once the tip of the fid gets to the point where the cover already has the core in it, it’ll be tough. I bent my fid into an “L” so that I could stand on it while pulling.

I find that it’s best to use a cleat or winch on the boat to hold the end of the line — those are the sturdiest points on most boats.

My finished splice.

Wash your hands — not the line — before splicing white line. Otherwise, your nice new line will get quite dirty, as mine did (above).