Replacing A Catamaran Bridle
Replacing a catamaran bridle is not a difficult job, but it is a bit fiddly. Our bridle is attached to the installed attachment plates on each of the bows of the boat. Each bridle leg is 4m or 13ft long. The end of the bridle that attaches to the chain has a loop with a chain hook inserted. The bridle is made of a 20mm or 3/4inch triple-braid nylon line.
I needed to replace our bridle because of a chafe point where the bridle attaches to the bow of the boat. The bridle was last replaced 4 years ago, during that time almost two strands of the triple braid line had chafed through. To avoid this from recurring, I installed thimbles to protect the line from chafe when I replaced my catamaran bridle. With this current installation, I expect this bridle to last at least 10-years.
Total Time Needed :
1
Hour
15
Minutes
Required Tools:
Things Needed?
Steps to Replace Your Catamaran Bridle:
Remove Your Old Bridle
To remove your current bridle, use a cutting board and a breadknife. A bread knife will cut through the line easily. Remember to remove the chain clip and check if you can reuse it on your new bridle. Don’t throw the old bridle away, as you are going to use it to measure your new bridal.
Measure Your New Bridle and Attach Chain Clip
When you’ve removed the old bridle, fold the new line you are going to use in half. Put your chain clip onto the line, and move it to the middle of the line. Measure the length of the original loop for the chain clip. Tie an overhand loop knot to secure the chain clip. When you tie the knot, ensure that the loose ends of your line are the same length after the knot is tied.
Measure The Ends You Are Going To Splice
You will need 18 twists for splicing, add the additional amount of twists for the length of your thimble. Mine was an additional 5 twists. Mark this point (mine was 23 twists) on the loose ends of the line. Ensuring that both ends are marked in the same place is important to ensure your new bridle is properly centered.
Insert Your Thimble
Insert your thimble through the attachment point on the bow of the boat. Feed your line through the thimble making sure that the mark on your line from the previous step is at the apex of the thimble. Tightly tape your line to the thimble at the end closest to the end of your line, which you will be unraveling.
Split The Triple Braid Line
Split the triple braid line into 3 separate lines. Ensure the ends of the three lines remained burned together, if they are not still burned, tightly tape the end of the lines to avoid unraveling. If this is your first time splicing mark the lines 1, 2, and 3.
Start Splicing Your Line
Tuck the middle strand (# 2) under a strand of the solid triple braid line as close to the end of your thimble as possible. Take the left strand (# 1) and tuck it under the strand just to the left of the strand you used on the last step, so it looks like it goes over the last strand you lifted. Take the right strand (#3) and tuck it under the strand that is on the right of the one you raised for the middle strand.
Continue Splicing Your Line
Keep on tucking the three loose lines through the solid line. With every tuck, the loose line should go over a strand and then be tucked under a strand of the solid line. Make sure you pull each tuck tightly into the solid line as you go. The working lines will want to unravel so you will have to twist them tight as you proceed.
Completing Splice
When you get close to the end of your working lines, cut and melt the ends of the three loose strands leaving a stub of about 10cm/ 1/3in on each strand. Use your culinary torch to burn the ends of your line. Don’t worry about the ends they will be pulled into the line when the line is under load.
Now that the one end of the bridle is attached, repeat these steps on the other side of the bridle.
NOTE: Make sure that your bridle is on the outside of your genoa, that it is positioned correctly, and will fall in the water before you start spicing the other end of your bridle.
Hi, I’m Nic! Our Family of four have been out cruising since 2016. We have sailed about 15,000nm, almost halfway around the world. We sold everything, took the leap of faith, and bought a 10-year-old Lagoon 380 ex-charter catamaran. We’ve fixed every system on the boat, often more than once. Cruising has been such a wonderful, positive experience for our family that I want to share my tips to help you Become a Cruiser.
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