D Marlinespike Seamanship D --- Dyneema®, Amsteel®, Soft Shackles and Hollow Braided Line UHMPE

Prerequisites: Marlinespike A rating (but write to instructor for admission without this rating). Open to Hoofer Sailing Club Members.

If you want to sign up for this but are unable for any reason to sign up for this particular lesson, add your name to the sign-up. Interest Sign-Up Page

Location: This is currently scheduled to be in the Park View Room on the 4th floor of the Union across from Great Hall. -- Check the Today in the Union website or the digital signs in Memorial Union on the day of the lesson. It will show up as Marlinspike. If looking on the website, you may have to search for "Marlinspike" because the page can have too many items. If you need help with the web page, I prepared a guide: How to Search for Events on the Today in the Union Web Page

This lesson is about using and splicing UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethelene) lines including work with Soft Shackles. Samson Ropes defines Amsteel® as a “high-modulus polyethylene” rope. The high-modulus part means that Amsteel® has “low elasticity elongation,” or in other words, it doesn’t stretch much. However, this also means that this type of rope doesn’t like to be shock-loaded, so ease into the hammock! Safe working loads do not apply to shock loading.

This is an exploratory lesson - we are in the process of setting this up. Hollow-braid rope is much easier to splice than even three-strand line. People are replacing standing rigging on boats with it. It requires different knots or knot strategies than other line.

We will start with a basic paracord soft shackle, then do some splices in hollow braid polyethelene, work on the following knots: Ashley Stopper Knot, Two-strand diamond knot, and Two-Strand button knot. Then we will do at least one 5-inch soft shackle in Dyneema® . You are welcome to bring your own line as well if you want to work on more than one or want to make a larger one..

Here is a link to my page on how to calculate the length of line needed for a Dyneema® soft shackle based on the diameter of the line used.

Here are a few links about HMPE rope and Soft Shackles that you should review before the lesson.

• The Amazing Lightweight Rope That Can Lift a Car!
• What is Dyneema® and Why is it Awesome?
• Working With High-Tech Ropes – Practical Sailor
• On Deck: Soft Shackles: Sail Magazine
• Brummel LockSingle Splice - video
• Splice Hollow Braid 12-Strand Rope - Locking & Mobius Brummel Splice - Thimble Eye - video
• How to tie a Two-Strand Diamond Knot – paracord video
• How to tie a Lanyard Knot (Diamond Knot) – Animated Knots
• Edwards Soft Shackle (Diamond Knot) – Animated Knots
• High-Strength Soft Shackles Using the “Brion Toss Button” Knot- Cruisers Forum
• 10-Second Soft Shackles – video – Interesting but nowhere near as strong – much easier to make, though
• Soft Shackles Diamond Knot vs. Button Knot (video with some fun sailing pics)
• How Important Is It To Taper Your Splices (article with videos)

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