Where does one go to get bights for Spectra lines?  Is this a fishing supply house thing?

A line has an end, a middle, and the rest of the spool.  When tying knots the very end is a "tag" and the middle is a "bight", the rest of the spool (or the stuff at your feet or on the table) is "standing" (don't stand on it). 

So a "bight" is a "bite" of the middle of the line.

The "standing" end is NOT meant to be stood upon.

The "tag" is that short little bit left outside the knot.

"Line" is cable, string, or rope with an assigned purpose.

Phil

I've been around boats all my life. 

The 5-turn uni-knot tied on the bight is perfect for fishing and control lines for good reason- it self tightens and won't slip.  Simply fold about a foot of line over to form a bight, then tie the knot treating this doubled portion as the end of the line. 

I recommend tying the knot using a straight end, around a wire, rod, or screw several times before trying to tie the doubled version. 

Since spectra line is so slippery I like to leave 1/4-3/8 of an inch of the tag end out.  I also use pliers on the 3 ends, at least 1 inch from the knot so the damage gets cut away, and several wraps around a heavy rod for the standing end, to pull the knot tight once it is arranged and snug. 

I have best luck cutting spectra by holding the scissors in place and drawing the line through the point the blades meet.  Good side cutters or nail clippers are my next choice.  Cutting spectra like paper with scissors won't work.

Now...how to mark so your lines end up exactly the same length...I haven't figured that out perfectly yet.  I use a sharpie to mark, and try to tie the knot to include the mark after it is tightened, and this seems to work best. 

Phil

So is this one of those public embarrassment leads to learning things?  "Tied on a bight" is Fisherman for "doubled up before tying?"

And I can just tie the line onto line clips or whatever?

Could someone who speaks both Fisherman and English submit a clarification to the rulebook if so?

The fisherman probably would say "doubled" and the sailor talking about the bight probably isn't going to touch the ends, but instead grab a section of the middle and tie a knot, arranging it so there were no ends other than the standing ends.

I just consulted the CL general rules for '13-'14 (again). The statement of a "bight" really is just a "increase your word power", though it is accurate.

I am unclear if tying directly to clips is permitted.  It would be nice if it were.  I tie to eyelets (thimbles), then install the clips to the eyelets.  I also find that tying to eyelets is easier if a loop is formed of (arbitrary size), the knot is tied, arranged, and snugged.  The line is then wet and the eyelet inserted into the loop, and the loop pulled tight carefully around the eyelet.  The Uni-knot is designed to tie to a wire hook as a direct termination.

Phil

Is there a way to tie that knot so that you end up with two lines the same length?

For 1/2a, loop it through the handle.  Perfect every time ;-)

For larger....still working on it.  I mark the lines along side each other with sharpie.  I then tie the knot to include the mark...which sometimes works... as the knot is arranged.  Then I tighten the knot. 

Since the mark is included in the knot the length should be very close to each other, however this is a knot with a lot of turns AND it is a sliding type knot so arranging the knot usually moves it off the mark some.

For lead outs I tie a giant loop so the knot closes it.  I can then pass the "bight" though the tip guide, the control horn, back through the tip guide, over the eyelet, and pull the eyelet to tighten the loop over the control horn to cinch tight.  I tie up 3 lead outs and get 2 that match    so less than perfect even with care.

I have used these loops on a couple open-wing planes, and now 1 closed wing plane.  The leads are pretty long out the wingtip, and it pulls more than line strength.  In theory it should be about 2x line strength since it is doubled over all the way, but I haven't tested to failure.

Phil