Keep yourself entertained with boating related tasks this fall and you’ll spend less time lamenting the fact that your boat is sealed in shrink wrap. As an added perk your efforts could save you some serious money. One interesting project during cold weather is to try splicing your own dock lines.  It requires a little practice but once you have it, it’s a breeze. 

Start with a practice length (about 3 feet should work) of three strand line. Three strand line is not only economical and prized for its give, it is the easiest type of dock line to splice.  The first step to splicing line is to gently separating the three strands at the end of your dock line. Tape each end individually so it does not come unravelled. Choose how large you want your loop to be and then tightly tape around the main leg of the rope at the bottom of the loop. This prevents your splice from traveling down the line while you are working.  See the diagram below courtesy of New England Ropes.

The next step is to begin your splice. Watch the following video from Expert Village for a great demonstration.

How to Splice a Line Part 2

You may find tools like a Fid and end whip may make your job easier. These can both be found at your local marina supply store. Good luck and happy splicing!