double braided line help

J

justgotaboat

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I just got over 500 feet of 3/8s double braided nylon line from work and had a few questions. I have a '01 sea ray 245 weekender and was thinking of making up dock lines and anchor lines with it.

1. I have heard that "conventional wisdom" states 1/8" line per 9' of boat. Is that a good rule of thumb? (I do have some heavier lines that could be used in bad weather)

2. Would this make a good anchor line? I have heard different things about wanting some stretch and am not sure.

3. I was thinking of using 300 feet of it with 25-30 feet of 1/4" or 5/16" chain that I already have to make a new anchor setup. I have plenty more chain (all in one piece that I will cut to length) and all the line to use (whatever is left will probably be made into dock lines of variety of lengths). Should I use more chain or line? The boat is still new to us, so I cannot say what conditions we usually anchor in and the anchor will have to haul it up by hand.

3. With regards to splicing it, I know I need to get a set of fids (or phids?) Is there something I should look for that makes a better, easier to use, more durable set, over a cheap set? Or is it one of those things where a cheap set works just as good as an expensive set.

4. Any recommended books or videos on how to splice it? Any tips or tricks for splicing? I have found some decent videos (as far as I can tell) on youtube that show how to do it, but advice from someone who has done it is always appreciated. Things to look for, avoid, do, don't do.

Thanks for the help!
 
In my opinion:

3/8 is too small for an anchor rode ( low line strength, and frankly, way too small to handle comfortably ). And most folks will say that double braid is not the best choice for a rode. You -can- use it, but I would not choose that combination intentionally.

I suspect that most would choose 1/2" 3-ply twist, though 8-ply wold be excellent ( though likely hard to find in 1/2" size )

---

It would make a nice set of light dock lines...

Note: I did not use any of the formulas etc.
 
As to #1 & #2, what Bruce said.

#3 & #4, there are special fids for cord line. Get a good set. Just find the video or set of instructions that makes the most sense to you. As with most things it gets easier after you do it a couple of times. To finish the splices correctly you should whip the ends and where the loop doubles back on it's self and the bitter end of the loop end goes back into the core to form the loop. If that makes sense.

http://www.tpub.com/content/aviation/14244/css/14244_44.htm
 
What good is a fid with double braided line. How would you splice it?

George
 
A different kid of fid is used, and it's very specific to line diameter. Splicing is do-able, but considerably more difficult than splicing three-strand.
 
Just want to re-emphasize that 3 strand is the correct line for anchoring.
 
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

Just want to re-emphasize that 3 strand is the correct line for anchoring.

Click to expand...


As far as I know a lot of windlasses won't work properly with double braid, at least mine won't. Mine requires 1/2" 3 ply twist.

Just a thought.

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive

< ahem >

Capt. Bruce1: The name is Bill... ;)

Click to expand...


Well duh to me, I knew that. Sorry brain fart on my end Bill. :-)
 
I use 3 ply twist for the windlass, but double braid nylon for a stern anchor in
case it's needed.
I wouldn't use double braid for permanent dock use due to low stretch and lack
of shock absorbing quality of double braid.
With nice splicing, they will make an excellent rafting set of lines.
 
Brion Toss, a Master Rigger out of Seattle sells a tape on splicing this type of line, and others. He also sells a special fid.

To me the diagrams in all the books are gobbledegook.

I also would use three strand for anchor line.
 
I do not have a windlass, so matching the type of line to that is not a problem. I was more curious as to the stretch and size being appropriate.
 
I lash double braid with 60-80 lb braided fishing line(nylon or dacron) as tight as possible. 4"-5" should be good enuff for 3/8".
 
In my commercial Halibut venture I used that Halibut Ground line for everything.

The price you pay is pain and discomfort handling that little line with a load on it. You need a davit/Windlass or a winch of some kind.
The only other way is to slip a big buoy on the Anchor line and run away from the Anchor.
The Buoy will pick up the anchor line, almost straight up off the bottom with a lot less chance of losing anything.
That's tough to do in a Crowd though.

You should always have a Buoy on the Anchor line anyway. Sometimes when Salmon fishing, if we hooked a big one and had to chase it, I'd throw the line off, and leave the buoy to mark the spot. Just snatch it after you land the fish.

3 strand is the proper thing. It can be spliced with a Fid and will stay!
Some time the multibraids will come loose at the splice. Although that might be Human error!

I got to where I could make a splice in three or four minutes with my home made fid. I made it out of a Ball point pen. Real cheap!
 
splicing 3 strand is easy. I am still working on the double braid, although it sounds like my plans for the line may not be as good as I thought. Ill see if I can scavenge some 3 strand from work and use that for an anchor line. I probably will still make several sets of lines out of the double braided to use for certain situtations
 
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