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**sailorchic34** · 12-04-2015, 12:43

Well I messed with the lifelines a bit today and have the first one installed, though with temporary hitches. Turns out my stanchions do have plastic inserts at the top lifeline hole anyway.

I have some cheap ice maker tubing protecting the Dyneema where it wraps around the cap shroud, just for the moment.

I'm going to order 100 feet of 3/8" white HDPE tubing, It's Polyethylene Oddly the same material as Dyneema and run that over the Dyneema for UV protection. Cheaper then paint and will look like normal lifelines, when it's done.

I was going to use black tubing, but that would get hot. Only 21 cents a foot on amazon. And it takes the lifelines back to 3/8" outside dia. while providing strength equal to steel lifelines that does not degrade via UV at a price, 1/3 of double braid dyneema. The ends I'll do something like parcel and serve for UV protection.

I'll probably get a bit of copper tube for where the lifeline rub on the shrouds. That should solve that chaff issue.

I still need a few more thimbles for my snap shackle gate hooks to do the eye splices on that end.

So it's coming along and I think it will be functional and durable/ uv protected for a pretty cheap price. A good engineered solution...

IdoraKeeper · 12-04-2015, 12:56

I need to do mine as well. I like your concept. Could you put up some pix when your done?

model 10 · 12-04-2015, 14:22

For chafe, using some cover from the right size line looks pretty good. You can get some nice fine weave cover from a rigging shop for free. The racing guy's strip it off.
You should think of using something with no stretch for the lashings. You will find that this is where the looseness in your lifelines comes from. That's provided you pre- stretch them before you lash them. So maybe use 1/8" spectra.

**sailorchic34** · 21-04-2015, 13:55

Ok a few photo's of the finished, well mostly finished product. I have the white outer 3/8" HDPE tubing installed over the top Dyneema lifeline. That turned out to be a project. But after 2-3 hours of cuss'n I finally found the right way to pull the #$%^& rope through the tubing.

It's a bit tight and will not slide up the part where the tail is inside the rope. Eye splices were Brummel McDonald locking splice. I'm using a modified water bowline with the tail run through the tree which I hear does not slip for the snap shackles.

I still need to add a thimble to the snap shackle. I also need to wrap the ends with maybe rigging tape, (not decided yet) for more UV protection. But the 3/8" tubing gives a bit more to grab hold of while providing perhaps better UV (it's solid white) and chaff protection. Plus it passes for a normal lifeline look from a short distance.

Now I just need to do the lower lifeline, but I'm saving that for tomorrow.

mikereed100 · 21-04-2015, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomm225

I've used the bowline with Dyneema for many years. The Dyneema I'm using isn't the same as what you folks are using.

Mine isn't as strong but it is stronger than the ski ropes we used to use and they worked reasonably well.

I trust what I have now much more than I trusted the 40 year old standard cable type that was on the boat when I got it with the many connections.

Actually I didn't trust it at all except to hang fenders from at the dock.

The stanchions were already on the boat so I used them. I ran some Dyneema. I may change it yearly. I'll have to see how it does.

This is I believe my 15th boat and the first with lifelines of any sort so it isn't like I'm taking a huge chance. Each sailor has to know his or her abilities as well as what type of sailing/boating they are doing.

If you are using HDPE no matter what the brand a bowline will pull through if you put enough strain on it. A better option is a Brummel splice as it is very easy to do and will not slip. Another option is this:
Modified Water Bowline
A modified water bowline that is probably what Sailorchic is using.

thomm225 · 21-04-2015, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikereed100

If you are using HDPE no matter what the brand a bowline will pull through if you put enough strain on it. A better option is a Brummel splice as it is very easy to do and will not slip. Another option is this:
Modified Water Bowline
A modified water bowline that is probably what Sailorchic is using.

What I'm using isn't going to pull through.

I've used it for years on catamarans for halyards etc. It's 3/8" and has like 4600lbs breaking strength but isn't one of the recommended Dyneema lifelines.

I'm going to see how I like it over this sailing season then if I keep this boat, I can get something stronger or maybe go back to cable. (or stay with it after I do some testing from the water while anchored)

I like the fact that I can untie the lifeline when at the dock and leave it down until I sail again.

Also, I'm depending on myself somewhat since this is the first boat I have had with lifelines, and it's also much more stable than the rest.

Also, I'm a coastal cruiser in my home waters since age 16. Worst part is the crossing where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay.

My old lifelines were very stretched out and maybe 40 years old. This is the crossing. winds quickly built to 25 knots with very closely spaced waves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTCG6nt3-tg

sanibel sailor · 21-04-2015, 16:29

PINK TEAK- I like it!

zeehag · 21-04-2015, 16:59

beni i found some reflective line i am gonna do mine with... i figger i might be better seen with glowing lines if folks arent first blinded by my anchor light..i modded my perko oil lamp to take an 1157 led replacement bulb and omygoddesses i am a bright child ..lol

mikereed100 · 21-04-2015, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomm225

What I'm using isn't going to pull through.

I've used it for years on catamarans for halyards etc. It's 3/8" and has like 4600lbs breaking strength but isn't one of the recommended Dyneema lifelines.

Ahhh. Then it's not Dyneema. 3/8 Dyneema has a breaking strength of 19,000 lbs. More likely polyester or a blend.

thomm225 · 21-04-2015, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikereed100

Ahhh. Then it's not Dyneema. 3/8 Dyneema has a breaking strength of 19,000 lbs. More likely polyester or a blend.

Yep, it has a Dyneema core. But no matter, I don't believe I need 19,000lbs of line strength to keep me attached to the boat.

I mainly bought this type due to limited stretch, and since I have the stanchions on the boat, I thought I should run line of some sort through them at the very least for reasons of aesthetics.

SAMSON ROPE WarpSpeedÂ® Dyneema Double Braid | West Marine

biker6977 · 24-04-2015, 13:38

Thank you for giving me alternatives to the SS wire. I was thinking about going solid SS tubing, still not sure but the thoughts are floating around ......

sanibel sailor · 26-04-2015, 18:04

Here is how I did mine

Metric coarse thread pelican hooks, need to be sure they are right hand thread off eBay, with matching metric eye bolts from McMaster I think.