Sailboats have a lot of rope. Most rope, once it has a purpose on a boat is referred to as a line or halyard. Lines and halyards are under constant abuse, damage from sun, and chafing are their worst enemies. So these lines need to be maintained and sometimes replaced and repurposed. Often this involves splicing and other types of ropework.
Splicing an eye, splicing a chafe cover or sewing a chafe cover, whipping, etc. are all things you need to do on a sailboat.
This ropework is essential to keep your running rigging in good condition. I’m always inspecting my running rigging to make sure my boat is safe to go to sea.
I find myself whipping the ends of line more than anything else. One of my pet peeves is frayed rope ends. No matter how well you burn the end of a rope, the ends, over time, will find a way to unravel. I was on a charter once and nearly all of the mooring lines were so frayed that the crew couldn’t get a line through the mooring thimble. This is not acceptable on my boat.
Whatever you are doing, the tools below are the ones I keep in my Rope Splicing Tool Kit and I find that I use them almost daily.
You don’t need to buy everything at once. I would actually start with a D-Splicer, set of needles and a roll of whipping twine. This will get you going.
Fids
This is where most people start with their splicing kit. The indispensable fid. I like the Selma Fid Set, and if you are getting one or two, just order the entire set. I have had mine for years, and I don’t think they have changed a bit from the ones sold today. I expect mine to last my lifetime. I like the Selma fids a little bit more than some of the other ones because I find it is easy to tape the rope to the fid for running it through the cover of a line. Simple is good.
Whipping Twine
I have whipping twine in several colors and sizes. If you are going to go through the trouble of whipping your line ends, make it look good. I try to use a color that is going to stand out so people can see that I’ve actually spent the time to whip all of the line ends on my boat.
Generally it comes in .08mm, 1mm and 1.2mm. If you are only going to buy one, get 1mm if most of the lines on your boat are 12mm or less. If they are smaller than that the .08mm will suffice. I only use the 1.2mm for larger lines.
I also whip my splices, so it’s good for that too.
Titanium Scissors
Now you only need titanium scissors if you are working with dyneema. I don’t have a ton of dyneema on my boat, but as I go along I am adding dyneema lines, soft shackles, continuous loops, etc. because it’s such a great material.
If you are going to be using dyneema you will need a really sharp pair of scissors to cut it.
Needles
I like these needles from . They are stainless, durable, and can be used for sail repair as well.
Tape
Tape is used for several things while doing ropework, taping the end of a line to cut it, taping rope covers or cores to fids, etc. Electrical tape or blue painters tape will work, but I prefer riggers tape. The two places I found that have it are Ronstan and Premium Ropes.
Windproof Lighter
If you are on a boat doing boat work, you are going to be burning the ends, or burning the end of your whipping twine. I like this little refillable lighter, for the price you can’t go wrong.
D-Splicer
More often than not I find myself reaching for the D-Splicer than I do a fid. I find the D-Splicer is a little easier to work with than a fid. With the fid you need to insert the core or cover, then tape it, then work it through the rope. Fids definitely have their place, but the D-Splicer is my go to.
With the D-Splicer you insert the end through the cover of the line, run it up to where you need to, then insert the core to the end of the D-Splicer and pull it back through. It is slick and easy.
Like fids, the D-Splicers come in multiple sizes. I only have two and find that’s all I have needed.
Rigging Knife
I don’t keep this in my kit, it is always clipped into my pocket, however I do use it from time to time while cutting rope. The reason I keep it on my is for safety in case I ever need to cut a line. I also keep a dive knife near the helm and another by the back of the boat in case I snag a fish pot or crab trap.
Multi-Tool or Pliers
You will find with needle work you are eventually going to have to use some pliers to pull the needle through the rope. Any pliers will work, I keep my multitool in my kit, so I don’t have to pull out the tool bag under the settee while doing rope work.
Ditty Bag
You need something to store all of this stuff, an inexpensive canvas bag is great for this.
Splicing Book or Phone App
I like Splicing Modern Ropes from Jan Willem Polman. There are multiple apps for this as well.
Let me know if there is anything I am missing that you keep in your splicing kit.