Marlow's Viper Cord and Other Cover Only Flexible Splices

[Brocky]

The unusual combination of materials interested me enough to get some, with low expectations for it because of the polypropylene core. The cover is half polyester, half Vectran, not the usual technora, which Marlow calls snakeskin. It's similar to the cover of the older version of 10mm Beeline.

Marlow's website, under their arborist section, lists the 8mm Viper. In their marine section, the same cord is called MGP Furler 50, but is available in 6mm-12mm diameters, with a choice of poly or dyneema core, and the Vectran replaced with technora.

The core looked like it was a solid braid, but turned out to be like 16 strand rope, an 8 strand braided cover, with parallel strands on the inside. The core is very firm and doesn't snag when splicing. You have to fight to keep the wire fid inside the cover by forcing the fid firmly against the core.

I haven't tried it yet, have one more eye to do.

 

[Brocky]

The cover has 16 strands, is very bumpy, and grabs more than cords with smoother covers. The Oval VT hitch that I use, can be tended without a pulley usually, because of the overhand knot. This cord was too grabby to do this, so I added a pulley. Using a pulley usually misaligns the oval carabiner jamming up the hitch, but the splices seem to hold it in place.

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

That is an interesting set up...Are you able to ascend/descend SRT? Looks like a progress capture on an improvised bar rack??

 

[Brocky]

Yes, it goes both up and down. It is a 4-2 VT with the second braid being an overhand knot. The oval carabiner prevents the friction of the first braid and helps the knot form a bend on the rope. It releases to descend easier than the Wrench.

 

[southsoundtree]

Wild hitch!!

 

[Brocky]

Try it, you'll like it..... maybe. Several people have asked about it, but I haven't hear any feedback on it.

 

[Brocky]

Another type of splice on this cord. Nice and flexible up to the eyes.

 

[Brocky]

I recently got some of the Viper cord from @yoyoman and had previously assumed it was the same as the MGP Furler 50 that I got from Fisheries Supplies, and from Marlow’s website description of Viper having a 16 strand cover. Trying to make a hitch cord by using only the cover, I realized the Viper had a 24 strand cover, which results in a larger and stiffer hitch cord. The 24 strands create less friction than the 16, and maybe Richard had it specially made.

 

[Richard Mumford-yoyoman]

I recently got some of the Viper cord from @yoyoman and had previously assumed it was the same as the MGP Furler 50 that I got from Fisheries Supplies, and from Marlow’s website description of Viper having a 16 strand cover. Trying to make a hitch cord by using only the cover, I realized the Viper had a 24 strand cover, which results in a larger and stiffer hitch cord. The 24 strands create less friction than the 16, and maybe Richard had it specially made.

Not made just for me. What is reflected in the spec sheet is what I have.

 

[Brocky]

After searching further, found the Furler comes in many sizes and material choices, 16 or 24 strands, and some websites selling it showed 2 carrier cover strands.
The new hitch cord works great, but the more strands make it stiffer and slightly larger diameter, even though it is 2” longer than the 16 strand one, the eyes end up about the same spot.

 

[JTree]

Weird stuff. Thanks for the write up!

 

[Brocky]

I was hoping to be able to use the thimble in the twist, but this works very well also.

 

[Brocky]

Viper cord and the Furler are only the same color, construction is completely different. Both can be spliced using the cover only. I settled on full length, overlapping buries. With the Furler 16 strand the finished cord was thinner then its original diameter, so it ended up being an inch longer than calculated. The Viper 24 strand was slightly larger in diameter after splicing and it turned out an inch shorter.

 

[SeanRuel]

Thanks for sharing your splicing trial results!

 

[Yan Manson]

I was hoping to be able to use the thimble in the twist, but this works very well also.
View attachment 63515

i like the knot ! How strong are those splices?

 

[Brocky]

I haven’t had any tested yet, I’m expanding to other cords, and plan to send in a few.
This is Tendon Timber midway through

 

[dmonn]

I think I got this from Richard a while ago. Is it Viper? How do you do an eye splice with it? The core seem very small and tightly braided.

 

[Brocky]

It looks like the Furler core, only smaller, probably polypropylene, and used as a filler, not adding much to the break strength. The Furler and Viper covers are 50-50 vectran and polyester, yours looks like it might be Technora. How many cover strands are there.

 

[dmonn]

It's got an 8 strand cover.

 

[Brocky]

For an eye splice, it might have to be an 8 plait one that is more like a three strand splice. It might not expand enough to do a bury type splice. Maybe a locked brummel and a reduced and tapered, long bury?