Standard Eye Splice in New Double-Braided Line

1. Tape the end to be spliced with one thin layer of tape. Then, measure one tubular fid length (two wire fid lengths, because the wire fid is l/2 size) from the end of the line and mark. (This is point R (reference), step 1 of fig. 2-24.) From R, form a loop the size of the eye desired and mark. (This is point X, where you extract the core from inside the cover.) 2. Tie a tight slipknot approximately five fid lengths from X. This must be done to keep the core and cover from becoming uneven. Bend the line sharply at X. With the pusher or any sharp tool, such as a ice pick, awl, or marlinespike, spread the cover strands to expose the core (step 2 of fig. 2-24). First pry, then pull the core completely out of the cover from X to the taped end of the core. DO NOT pull cover strands away from the line when you are spreading the cover, as this will distort the line unnecessarily. To assure correct positioning of mark 1, do the following: holding the exposed core, slide the cover as far back toward the tightly tied slipknot as you can. Then, firmly smooth the cover back from the slipknot toward the taped end. Smooth again until all cover slack is removed. Then, mark the core where it comes out of the cover. (This is mark 1.) 3. Again slide the cover toward the slipknot to expose more core. From mark 1, measure along the core toward X a distance equal to the short section of tubular fid (two short sections with wire fid) and make two heavy marks. (This is mark 2.) From mark 2, measure in the same direction one fid length plus another short section of the fid (with wire fid, double measurements) and make three heavy marks. (This is mark 3, step 3 of fig. 2-24.) 4. Note the nature of the cover braid—it is made up of strands, either one or two (pair). Notice that half the pairs revolve to the right around the rope and half revolve to the left. Beginning at R and working toward the taped end of the cover, count eight consecutive strands (single or pairs) that revolve to the right (or left). Mark the eighth strand. (This is mark T, step 4 of fig. 2-24.) Make mark T go completely around the cover. Starting at T and working around the taped cover end, count and mark every fifth right and left strand (single or paired) until you have progressed down to the end of the taped cover. 5. Insert the fid into the core at mark 2. Slide it through and out at mark 3. (Step 5 of fig. 2-24.) Add extra tape to the tapered covered end, then jam it tightly into the hollow end of the fid (see insert). Hold the core lightly at mark 3; place the pusher point into the taped end; push the fid and cover through from mark 2 and out at mark 3. With the wire fid, first press prongs into the cover, then tape over. Then after the fid is on, milk the braid over the fid while pulling the fid through from mark 2 to mark 3. Take the fid off the cover. Continue pulling the cover tail through the core until mark R on the cover emerges from mark 3 (see step 6 of fig. 2-24). Then remove the tape from the end of the taped cover. 6. Make sure the tape is removed from the cover end. Start with the last marked pair of cover strands toward the end; cut and pull them out completely (see step 7 of fig. 2-24). Cut and remove the next marked strands and continue with each right and left mark strand until you reach point T; do NOT cut beyond this point. The result should be a gradual taper ending in a point. Very carefully pull the cover back through the core until point T emerges from mark 2 of the core (see step 8 of fig. 2-24). From point X on the cover, measure approximately one-half fid length toward the slipknot on the line and mark this point Z (see step 9 of fig. 2-24). 7. You are now ready to put the core back into the cover from T to Z. Insert your fid at T (step 9 of fig. 2-24). jam the taped core end tightly into the end of the fid. With the pusher, push the fid and core through the cover "tunnel," past point X, to, and through the cover at point Z. When using the wire fid, attach the fid to the tapered core. After the fid is on, milk the braid over the fid while pulling through from T to Z. When pushing the fid past X to Z, make sure the fid does not catch any internal core strands. NOTE Depending on eye size, the fid may not be long enough to reach from T to Z in one pass. If not, bring the fid out through the cover, pull the core through, and reinsert the fid into the same hole it came out of. Do this as many times as needed to reach point Z. 8. Alternately pull on the core tail at Z, then pull the tapered cover at mark 3. The crossover should be tightened until the crossover is equal to the diameter of the line. Remove all the slack from the eye area by smoothing the cover from point T toward X. Mark where the core tail emerges through the cover at point X (see step 10 of fig. 2-24). Pull the core tail out until the mark just made on the core is exposed at Z. The diameter of the core must now be reduced by cutting and removing one strand of each group around the complete circumference. Measure one-third fid length from the first reduction cut toward the end and make a mark. Cut 2-23