Got to wonder........
I'd wonder about UV degredation, micro-scopic cracking upon impact and weakness over time, not to mention, getting wacked in the head by it when on the foredeck (or elsewhere)..
Plus, it looks like one will need one gizmo for each line size. I guess I'll keep tying bowlines and worry about them untieing themselves at the most incovenient times, which has never happened in my 35 years of boating (profesionally and recreationally). Come to think of it, if you drop a part of the splicing nut (which will always end up in the water), you are up the creek without a paddle. So who is worse off? The guy with a loose bowline who can rapidly re-tie it or the sod with a missing piece to his Splicing Nut?
Plus, this sounds like fun on a tossing foredeck:
"If the nut is difficult to close, the closing motion on the nut should be, for every 1/2 turn of closure you back off a 1/4 turn and do another 1/2 turn of closure, with another 1/4 back turn and so on, (similar to a motorcycle throttle motion), until you bottom on the core! A proper line to SplicingNut sizing should have firm resistance to closing."
Nor does a bowline come with the following WARNINGS:
"Warning: Instructions must be followed exactly, please read the following cautions carefully.
SplicingNut is intended for use with braided line. It is not recommended for use in high tensile applications where the ultimate breaking strength of the line expected to be reached. A point of reference, the use of a knot reduces breaking strength of line to approximately 60-70 % of the listed break strength, 50% being the rule of thumb. Cordage institute standards call for lines to be tested in an eye to eye splice arrangement, most lines are not used in this fashion. See recommendation chart for further information. Manufacturers intending to use this part as an OEM should contact our engineering dept. for a full range of options and load applications.
Lines with heavy and tightly covered outer sleeves such as climbing ropes and marine lines such as Samson’s warp speed are not recommended, this product should not be used with this type of line. Line with a soft hand that takes a turn easily works best with our product.
This version of our product is not intended for use with high tensile lines such as Sampson’s Amstel unless the line’s tensile bearing capabilities are being used strictly for it’s elongation properties and the actual loads are comparable to what would be expected for high quality braided polyester line. This product should not be used for unattended dock lines, anchor lines or other applications where storm surge may bring the line to loads close to the breaking strength.
When using aloft or with overhead loads Always check inspection port for presence of the bitter end of the line. Man aloft or overhead loads, Do not exceed the working load of the line. We give the working load of a line as a 5:1, this safety factor is a standard in engineering practice for ground applications.
Oh well, Mr. old fashion bowline man,
John M.
