In my experience as a competitive offshore sailor, making splices in 8 or 12 strand hollow spectra is nothing new. Its used for running and standing rigging. And the loads are much higher, 4000+ pounds. I have yet to have a splice Ive made fail. A splice called a 'Brummel Splice' is employed to make the line lock into itself.
The problem with fishing windons as I see it is that few use any kind of locks when making eye splices. They just rely on the finger-cuff nature of the line to hold itself. Which is foolish, and if you are doing this you are foolish. In my experience as a professional mariner, I use 12 strand spectra mooring lines. They are very smooth, slip, and when they do so they generate heat and that is VERY bad for spectra. Otherwise a line 2" thick can hold over 100 tons. I've even had our lines put a list on our 680' ship if they get tight, rather than breaking. But when they slip, they break. Thats what you are inviting if you dont lock down the spectra. It WILL SLIP. If it doesnt pull out its going to break.
Im not saying my way is the only way, or even the best. But you should at least give it a chance and see if you dont like it. Yes its a bit more effort. For this demonstration I used 130lb mono and 250lb PP. The pictures arent perfect, and the knot certainly isnt 100% my best effort but its a good guide. And after 12 of these I was a bit wiped.
If you havent caught it already the above picture was my first mistake. The knot is on backwards. You want the loop end on the mono. That way you can pull the knot tight and still just barely slip the tag end inside for a clean knot. W/E. Pull the knot tight.
Do 2-3" of half hitches down the hollowcore for at least the length of the glued area. Pull tight down towards the mono every three hitches that way it gets secured evenly and doesnt twist.
Last edited by The Codfather; 04-04-2010 at 06:04 AM.
Do a 5-turn overhand with the wax thread when you want to stop the half hitching. My second mistake in the pictures here was that I only half-hitched for like an inch. And I dont think I glued the spectra. So sue me, Im not going to be using this leader for anything. Its only got like 2' of mono anyway and 10' of spectra.
Pull it tight and clip it off. Cover with two coats of spectra glue. Nice, smooth, low-profile easy running knot holding that mono tight tight tight to the spectra.
So now you are thinking, well that was easy! I could do that all day! Great, cause you still have the other end where the mono is buried in the spectra to do. 'DOH' Im not going to hold your hand with it, its just the same. Stop blubbering, you're a big boy, you can do it, plus you already practiced on the first knot.
Once you get that done without having to cut it off and restart three times or dropping a knife on your chin like I did, its time to make the spectra loop. Goody!
Thread the spectra 1' into the hollow core at a point 4' from the bitter end.
Shove the needle into the hollowcore 1 foot. Starting from where the tag end exits the hollowcore and heading for the bitter end. Place the loop in the latch and begin pulling it through.
Last edited by The Codfather; 04-04-2010 at 06:19 AM.
Now this is the hard part, the part I mess up on the most. The only advice I can give is go slow, dont force it, and use plenty of lube. Oh wait...we're making windons, right? Sorry wrong thread. Back to the matter at hand.
Begin pulling the loop through the tag end of the hollowcore, exiting after 1' and once you have the loop totally through begin pushing the hollowcore back over itself. It should fold smoothly. Power pro is crap.
Just relax and make sure the windons is nice and smooth when its folding over itself and doesnt get all bunched up cause it a pain to re-do.
Last edited by The Codfather; 04-04-2010 at 06:22 AM.
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