by GreenLake » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:26 pm
Rob, it's called splicing, not "braiding" and doing a tight splice around a thimble or eye in double-braided rope is not for everyone. I and others here have enjoyed the challenge, but.
Your first options would be to use different types of rope, instead of the double-braid shown. I used three-strand, and did a traditional eye-splice. They are fun to do and more obvious in how you get there to a novice. You could also use Dyneema (AmSteel) rope and use a Brummel splice. Those are super easy to do and the only tool you need is a bit of stiff wire bent in a sharp U. (You wedge the free end into the U to pull it through the splice, no need for "fids" and other specialized tools). Instructions for either one are a quick web-search away.
Or you get some sturdy thread and do a sewn splice. Just lead the rope around the eye, and lay the short end parallel to the long end and sew them together. That works with pretty much any kind of rope (even rope that can't be spliced any other way). To make it look prettier you can "whip" the splice, that is wrap it tightly with yarn, burying the ends. Instead of sewing, you can also just take a bit of stainless steel wire and (with a pair of vise grips) wrap a few very tight turns. If done tightly enough it will hold well.
Finally, you could use a knot. You'd want something compact that cinches itself tight like a Buntline Hitch. You can find instructions online, easy to tie, very compact, but won't come undone by itself.
Using any of these methods, secure a low-friction ring like the one shown in the first post. (Sold online or in shops that carry sailing parts).
What your PO had could be opened and clipped to the sheet after it was rigged. There's no need for that and these clips look like they would have quite a bit of friction. (Some people here claim that even the low-friction rings don't slide well enough and insist on blocks).
PS: you don't show the end of the green lines; they should be about 6' long. If much longer, they'd be for something else.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~