I’ve seen my lobsterman husband splice rope together in a matter of a few seconds. I always chuckle and think, “That looks easy, almost like braiding hair.” I've even done it a few times and was successful in function, but not form.
Then, I started working at Sea Bags, and quickly learned that splicing uses both form and function. One day I watched Sokunthy, our finance manager, splice faster than my husband. I thought to myself, “I have seen my husband splice & I have tried to do this a few times…. I can do this, no sweat!” Her splice looked quite perfect. Meanwhile mine looked like a toddler playing with a ball of yarn.
I decided to look it up online to get directions and I also found a book at the shop with pictures and written directions. I am amazed there are so many different types of splicing: eye splice, horse shoe splice, long splice, short splice, cut splice, back splice, and the list goes on. With each splice, there are different types of tapers. After all of my research, I still can’t splice.
A few days ago, a handful of co-workers were trying to splice a different way than we usually splice handles. After a few attempts, an expert was brought in, a fisherman from our wharf. In fishing & lobstering, both form and function are needed. We are fortunate to have valuable resources just steps away on Custom House Wharf. I'm off to practice splicing and glad I have my day job.
