Why Use Flat Webbing as Jacklines Instead of Rope ?

[foolishsailor]

We can take the tragedy in the farrallones race as an example that could have been avoided had the crew been clipped in.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by foolishsailor

We can take the tragedy in the farrallones race as an example that could have been avoided had the crew been clipped in.

And if the boat rolls, then your still with the boat, dead or alive.

The problem being is getting unclipped if need be.

[CarinaPDX]

Which is why all tethers should have clips on both ends - the crew's end must never be tied off.

[foolishsailor]

In the case of the faralones, its like the seatbelt myth. The idea that you have a better chance of surviving if you dont wear a seatbelt and are thrown from the wreck. Statistically this is a lie. The same holds true for tethers. For every soul drowned due to being dragged along side the boat under water how many are saved?

And of the ones drowned how many would have been lost anyway to the sea ? And of the ones left how many would have been saved by a proper rescue system to pull them out of the water making the rescue system the problem and not the tether.

We all have our opinions amd i have mine as well. I have also more than half a dozen times been swept the deck by green water and i can only imagine that at least one of those would have taken me over if not for my tether bringing me short.

[Snore]

The fear of being drowned by my tether is the reason I am moving my faithful Gerber River Shorty knife from my kayaking PFD to my Mustang inflatable. The knife has one purpose... cutting my way out of whatever is preventing me from breathing and saving my butt.

IMHO, anyone tethered should have a straight blade rescue knife to cut themselves away, if needed. It could also deflate the PFD in a turtle situation.

Bill

[susanna reiter]

......the Farallones race tragedy really drives home the "clipped on/jack lines" mandate...

[rtbates]

why? lay both on side deck, heel a tad, now go step on each and see which one rolls under your foot??

[foolishsailor]

Originally Posted by Snore

The fear of being drowned by my tether is the reason I am moving my faithful Gerber River Shorty knife from my kayaking PFD to my Mustang inflatable. The knife has one purpose... cutting my way out of whatever is preventing me from breathing and saving my butt.

IMHO, anyone tethered should have a straight blade rescue knife to cut themselves away, if needed. It could also deflate the PFD in a turtle situation.

Bill

Having a sailing knife attached to your harness is standard procedure for those observing seamen like procedures. Not just to save your life but also to deal withother emergencies and non emergincies like opening a shackle and using the fid to loosen a salty and stubborn knot...

[Snore]

Originally Posted by foolishsailor

Having a sailing knife attached to your harness is standard procedure for those observing seamen like procedures. Not just to save your life but also to deal withother emergencies and non emergincies like opening a shackle and using the fid to loosen a salty and stubborn knot...

I don't like folding knifes for use in an emergency. When the manure hits the fan, having to unfold a knife assumes calmness. A straight blade emergency knife is idiot-resistant.... just unsheath, slash and survive.

That said, a proper sailing knife does have its place

Bill

[wolfenzee]

If you have a pad-eye in the middle of the foredeck (for a baby stay, for this purpose and/or some other reason) this will give you a place to clip in and allow you to move around the fore deck to tend to sails and keep you on deck...my harness has two lengths of tether 3' and 6' (with the ability to change to two 3'). Also I would not fly a jennaker or spinnaker at night.

[thinwater]

Back to the original thread.

I was single-handing yesteraday in some bumpy conditions (SCA), using new tethers. I've been using tethers for 20 years and though I have many thoughs, two seem on-topic:

1. Easy to use clips are a boon. I love the new Kong Tango clips, and I've used many. So fast. I'll keep them lubed.

2. I greatly prefer rope jacklines (1/2-inch) to webbing (I've used both on this boat). Rope is way easier to clip than wet webbing and also makes a better hand hold.

Do they look like runing rigging? Go for bright yellow. Do they get under foot? Not where mine are set.

To me, speed with acuracy is very important.

[AllezCat]

I recently saw a system at a theme park to allow the maintenance people on the roller coasters to remain continuously clipped in while climbing the stairs. Some kind of ball that passed over connection points.
Seems could be adapted to boats. It would then allow a more rigid and continuous point of contact.
I remember the fastnet tragedy. Many guys were drowned under their boats-locked into their tethers. Essential to have quick release. The English tethers I have have a double catch - hard to release -would never use them...
My boat has plastic covered ss lifeline for jacklines. but I don't use them to many things to go wrong...

[wolfenzee]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Back to the original thread.

I was single-handing yesteraday in some bumpy conditions (SCA), using new tethers. I've been using tethers for 20 years and though I have many thoughs, two seem on-topic:

1. Easy to use clips are a boon. I love the new Kong Tango clips, and I've used many. So fast. I'll keep them lubed.

2. I greatly prefer rope jacklines (1/2-inch) to webbing (I've used both on this boat). Rope is way easier to clip than wet webbing and also makes a better hand hold.

Do they look like runing rigging? Go for bright yellow. Do they get under foot? Not where mine are set.

To me, speed with acuracy is very important.

Jack lines that run alone tha gunwales keep you attached to the boat after you fall over, get under foot and you need two sets....a single one down the midde of the cabin top doesn't get under foot and keeps you on the boat (I'm agreeing with you).

[Nicholson58]

Spot on Ippocampus. My wife and I will be retired and double handing a Camper & Nicholson 58 ketch. Big stable monster with 55000 disp. Our rule is on deck day-night always clip and always wear a PFD. The time to retrieve some one and the effort is too great. Probabliities at night are impossible. First rule is stay on the boat. We don't fly the kite at night or any other sail that requires leaving the cockpit. I raced for 20 years and we were big winners. I love to go fast and fly it all but we can't play that game without crew. I'd miss her and it would ruin sailing if anything happened. Keep in mind, its supposed to be fun.

[ippocampus]

thanks for the ideas guys! ... if the wind and sea conditions are good flying it at night is pretty special and irresistible...but i agree risky..must have enough hands on deck for handling dousing ...
and must keep really alert during your watch...