I know the theory behind tapering dyneema for halyards/control lines etc and have succeeded in the past, with, if I say so myself, quite satisfactory results. However, I've just bought some 4mm dyneema to replace the my main halyard but can I get the core out through the cover, can I bu****ry! I may have to resort to separating the cover strands and hiding them in the core in bunches. Have they changed the structure of the cover recently? It seems so tight that there is little likelyhood of getting the core out without cheating and slitting the cover.

The last time i tried they had changed the core from being woven to twisted strands, no not able to splice at all!

Similar thing happened with Polyropes 4004 for control lines - used to be a really neat job to splice the dyneema core and let the cover back over, or expose the core entirely - now the dyneema core is now woven in the same way - too tiny to splice well even on 4mm

Alistair you don't say which manufacturer of line it is. I find the Marlow cover a little bit more loose than say Kingfisher. Also the core of a 4mm covered dyneema is usually 8 plait. Again the marlow seems to be a little more loose in the lay up making it easier to splice. On the flip side of that the Kingfisher(Gotfried Maffioli) dyneema (Marlow D12) is a much nicer line. Much smoother and more consistant than the Marlow which can sometime have too much UV protector which then flakes off. After a while of use it doesn't make that much difference but initially the KF is easier to work with.

Fairly certain it's Marlow. I've decided to snip a couple of strands of the cover - looks like that was what was done on the halyard I'm replacing.

I don't know if this will help.

Cheers but that's not the problem bit. The problem's getting the core out of the cover so that the 'scrag-end' of cover can be tucked away 'up-string' of the eye.

My name is Paul Honess and I am the Sales Director for Marlow Ropes.

I have obviously picked up on the end of this conversation but I can say that we have not changed the construction of our Excel Racing product:-

The construction is a Dyneema SK75 core with a 16 plait polyester jacket.

The 1.5mm, 2mm and 3mm have a twisted dyneema core and the 4mm, 5mm and 6mm have an 8 plait dyneema core.  Therefore the 4mm, 5mm and 6mm can be spliced where as the smaller diameters cannot.

Without seeing the product it is very difficult to assertain wether it is Marlow or not I have put a link below to the page on our site if the cover colours match what is here i can say it is Marlow.

http://www.marlowropes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72:excel-racing&catid=51:dinghy-windsurfing&Itemid=171

Alternatively if it is a continuous contril line you are splicing we have a new product launched last year which is aimed at the application so it can be spliced together with out any increase in dianeter at the join please see link below:-

http://www.marlowropes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:excel-control&catid=51:dinghy-windsurfing&Itemid=249

I hope this answers you questions if you have anymore please dont hesitate to ask.

Many Thanks,

Paul

Paul,

Thanks for the response. It does appear to be the red 4mm Marlow but, and you can all now breathe a sigh of relief, I've succeeded in getting the core out. I think I was being a bit too gentle in prising the cover open.

Makes you wonder just who else keeps an eye on the rubbish I post on this forum! (...thinks, glad I clarified my post about trying to break my mast in case Bishop Skinner are lurking)

You may be paranoid Mr Mills......but that doesn't mean we are not watching.......

Short break in barbados booked, looking forward to renwewing the insurance on 3511.

See , even the clergy are watching you and no one expects the spanish inquisition. Must be all that talk about the original topic of penetration. Back to the topic.... Nice to see a helpful post ftom a manufacturer, very useful.

As you say: excellent post from Marlow, with some great looking ropes properly designed for a purpose - but can you check and update your "How to splice" pointers, as the steps as written are very hard to understand.

There is, though that excellent pointer to a video on how to splice from Rooster.

So what is the method for removing the core and producing a nice neat taper?

I can concur with Mr Marlow re Excel Control. Top bit of kit. We use it on all the new Phantoms we fit out at Vandercraft. You actually splice the cover so you end up with a continuous line you can hardly see the join on. Excellent! Bit cheaper than Excel Racing I think as well...

With my chandlery head on my only concern is that it replaces E/R for control lines but there's still a lot of applications it won't be as good as E/R for. Therefore we chandlerys will need to stock yet another range of line. Because of this I'm not sure you'll find it in too many places currently despite being launched some time ago...

PS. We'll have a Phantom on the Selden stand at the dinghy show if you want to take a look at the Excel Control...