Anchoring - Anchor Rode Eye Splice

Anchor Rode Eye Splice

An eye splice around a thimble is easy to make, and protects your anchor rope from the abrasive effects of anchor chain movement.

UV resistant nylon is the only rope that should be used for anchoring, and not polyester, and certainly not polypropylene, because polypropylene floats, and lacks strength. Polyester may be softer on your hands but it isn't strong enough.

Step 1 Unravel the three strands of rope for a length of 100 mm, and wrap a temporary binding of masking tape around each of the ends. The masking tape secures the yarn within each strand, and really helps the manipulation of the ends through the rope strands, for me. From this point, references will be made to 'rope strands' and 'unraveled strands'... rope strands will refer to strands still twisted and unified into rope. Unraveled strands will refer to the three 100 mm separated strands.	Step 2 Reverse the rope's twist at the thimble's apex, force an opening under the strand closest to the thimble apex.
Step 3 Tightly twist the unraveled strands together on the top side of the thimble, because they have a tendency to unravel too far up. Then pass the unraveled strand, nearest to the thimble's apex, under the rope strand forced open in the step above.	Step 4 Pass the second unraveled strand under the next rope strand to the left.
Step 5 For the third unvaveled strand, turn the thimble over, so that the opposite site is now facing you, and find the rope strand closest to the thimble's apex, and pass the third unvaveled strand under that rope strand. Braiding the splice in this way seems to result in a tighter fit around the thimble, as compared to the alternative of simply continuing the sequence begun in steps 3 and 4.	Step 6 Continue the pattern of passing the sequence of unraveled strands under adjacent strands of the rope, until they're too short to braid.
Step 7 Remove the masking tape, trim the ends to an even length, fray the ends to aid melting, and ignite them with a cigarette lighter.	Step 8 While the nylon ends are still molten, place the splice on the pavement, and roll it under your shoe, fusing the cut ends with the rope strands adjacent to them.

Step 9 Eye splice, emphasizing fused appearance.