Eliminating lifelines?

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

Some of the J-boats have removable stanchions and lifelines for deliveries.

Even the latter AC boats were without lifelines. When Australia 2 stole the Cup from the US in 83, she raced without lifelines. As did all boats in that class of the day.

Sadly, some of the older AC boats now have had lifelines installed to comply with Charter rules. I get it, though it certainly ruins the lines of the boat

[bletso]

Originally Posted by Fog Bank

My lifelines are worth their weight in gold as my Blue Performance cup holder is attatched to them. I take my cup holders seriously...

Now there is a man who has his priorities in line. I personally have no preference. At times they are a real pain, but.... Mine are not mounted presently and on inspection some of the welds on the supports need re-done. That just means that they would probably failed if called upon. They are like chain plates, i.e. the stanchion base have to be pulled in order to inspect them.

[packeteer]

they've kept me on the boat a few times, so I'm gonna have to vote to keep them. I would replace wire with amsteel / dyneema

[Ericson Lover]

For what reason would you want to remove them other then cost? I personally believe that any aid to safety is worth having on a boat especially when sailing solo like I do.

[Hamish_ct]

Remove your lifeline at your own risk. Personally I think its an incredibly stupid thing to do. Sailing is dangerous people die.

Risk vs reward. Not having them you risk falling off the boat or even worse a friend falling off and drowning. Having lifelines is an extra layer of safety. What's the harm of having them? Nothing. The opposite is a disaster.

[boatman61]

Lifelines are like seatbelts.. no guarantee they'll save your life.. but they do decrease the odds on losing it..

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Lifelines are like seatbelts.. no guarantee they'll save your life.. but they do decrease the odds on losing it..

May I disagree. Jackline and a tether are like a seatbelt. Lifelines are like wannabee rails..

BR Teddy

[Ericson Lover]

Hi, do you have Picts of the "rod rails you have for life lines? I need to replace mine soon and I'm looking for options. Thanks. Mic

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

May I disagree. Jackline and a tether are like a seatbelt. Lifelines are like wannabee rails..

BR Teddy

I never use jacklines and tether but.. feel free to disagree all you choose..

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Ericson Lover

Hi, do you have Picts of the "rod rails you have for life lines? I need to replace mine soon and I'm looking for options. Thanks. Mic

No rod rails either except hand rail on the coach roof and granny rail by the mainmast. Netting laced to toerail and up to stays from the arch to the bow sprit.. Sorry no pictures yet to show.

[exMaggieDrum]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Maggie-
Let's face it, this is the cruisers' forum. If we didn't have lifelines, wtf would we hang wet laundry to dry?!


Don't let all this safety chatter distract you from the real important issues. I'm not putting one of those clothing-hangar-go-round thingies up on top of the cockpit, no sir. Lifelines and clothespins, that's how we can tell a racer from a cruiser.

Agree - lifelines are truly multi-purpose, for cruisers at least.

I also agree that lifelines and stanchions don't improve the looks of the boat - except - IMO no lifelines/stancions on a cruiser make it truly ugly from a safety POV. They have saved my brisket more than once. My previous boat had solid tubing for the top all around and they were a few inches higher. That added weight (some) and were even more unsightly from an artistic point of view. I truly loved them though. They were a true safety improvement and I would put them on my current boat if I had the spare money and not so many other priority projects.

I cringe when I see a boat without lifelines. But each to his own (level of safety management).

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Ericson Lover

Hi, do you have Picts of the "rod rails you have for life lines? I need to replace mine soon and I'm looking for options. Thanks. Mic

Sorry Mic.. I don't have any pic's.. will try to remember to take a pic or two next time I'm on the boat.
What I have of the boat don't really show anything..

[Ericson Lover]

OK thanks

[rassabossa]

Lifeline? You mean that line that goes around the boat? I thought that was a clothesline!

All kidding aside, safety first, replace with dyneema as needed.

[sailor1924]

Originally Posted by Ericson Lover

Hi, do you have Picts of the "rod rails you have for life lines? I need to replace mine soon and I'm looking for options. Thanks. Mic

Below are four pictures. The first is the boat with a solid rail at 2 foot. The second is a shot during the installation of a rail at 3 foot in addition to the original 2 foot high. The third and fourth are a comparisons of the side view.

The big blue thing on the forward deck is the tubing bender I was using to curve the new railings. I later completed an inner rail at the 3 foot level on the dog house where you can see the solar array. I don't seem to have any photos of a finished job.

As you can see there is an impact on the looks of the boat but to me the lines still read and the rails follow the lines well enough so that they are not too painful to my eye.

I have more trouble aesthetically with the solar panels but would not give them up after using them for a year. I installed the solar to fold out away from the mast for shadow relief and to lay down flat on the house deck. I think they look better down.