RIGGING HARDWARE

Thimble

A metal liner for a spliced eye that spreads the load and stops chafe cutting the rope.

INSPECT BEFORE LOAD · NEVER EXCEED WLL

Rope, splices and hardware are only as good as their condition. Inspect before every use and retire on evidence.

Specification

Types	Solid, tube, open, wire
Materials	Galvanised steel, 316 stainless
Fit	Matched to rope diameter
Function	Bearing surface, chafe protection
Marking	Size reference
Common error	Thimble too small for the eye

Technical parameters

6 mm rope	Thimble for 6 mm
10 mm rope	Thimble for 10 mm
12 mm rope	Thimble for 12 mm
16 mm rope	Thimble for 16 mm
Groove depth	Cradles full rope width
Inspection	Wear, cracks, groove depth

SelectLoad

Overview

A thimble is a grooved metal liner that sits inside a spliced eye. Its job is to give the rope a smooth, generous bearing surface against a shackle, a chain link or a pin, instead of the rope bearing directly on a much smaller radius. Without one, a spliced eye under a cyclic load will chafe through at the bearing point long before the splice itself fails.

The fit is what matters. A thimble must match both the rope diameter and the eye size: too small and it will not seat in the eye, too large and it will shift and chafe the splice itself. The groove should cradle the rope across its full width.

Thimbles come in plain, tube and solid patterns for wire and rope respectively, in galvanised steel and stainless. As with any hardware, the material should match the environment — stainless on deck, galvanised where cost matters and inspection is diligent.

Safety notes

A thimble must match the rope diameter. An undersized thimble concentrates the load and accelerates chafe.
Inspect for a worn groove. Once the groove is deeper than the rope's bearing surface can spread, the protection is gone.
A thimble is not a strength element — it protects the rope. Do not rate the assembly from the thimble.

Using it well

Form the eye around the thimble before you start tucking, so the eye comes out the right size.
Roll the splice tight around the thimble and load it gently to seat the rope in the groove.
Where an eye will see heavy cycling, replace the thimble when you remake the splice rather than reusing a worn one.

Suited to

Spliced eyesShacklesChainMooring lines

Typical applications

SailingRiggingAnchoring

Figures are typical catalogue values for new equipment, quoted for comparison and planning. They are not a guarantee for any specific product or any specific load. Always work to the manufacturer’s stated working load limit and to the regulations that apply where you sail.

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