Dyneema for lifelines

[Jolly Roger]

Does anyone know if there are any current restrictions on the use of Dyneema for lifelines on racing boats?

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

Does anyone know if there are any current restrictions on the use of Dyneema for lifelines on racing boats?

World Sailing, Offshore Rule. Google it. The answer is yes and no, depending on the boat and sailing area.

[Orion Jim]

Dyneema is great for many applications.....lifelines isn’t one of them.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Dyneema is great for many applications.....lifelines isn’t one of them.

Explain why not please

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Dyneema is great for many applications.....lifelines isn’t one of them.

we have 6mm dyneema now 3 years. Excellent, easy to see chafe. No chafe as we protect with 7mm inner diameter tube at chafe points.

[ggray]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Dyneema is great for many applications.....lifelines isn’t one of them.

I think the US Navy uses Dyneema lifelines,FWIW.

[silkie]

I've used dyneema & had no problems.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Dyneema is great for many applications.....lifelines isn’t one of them.

We changed to 4mm dyneema lifelines three years ago. The tubes to prevent chafing at the stanchions was not good enough and now I have 3mm lifelines, but I will change them to new dyneema 4mm and improve the chafe protection.

[chrisr]

i don't believe that dyneema is permitted under australian yacht racing regulations...but if you are not racing then no restrictions

cheers,

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by chrisr

i don't believe that dyneema is permitted under australian yacht racing regulations...but if you are not racing then no restrictions

cheers,

Dyneema (HMPE rope) lifelines are currently not allowed, but there is a current proposal to add them to the regulations as an alternative to stainless steel wire.

https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cup...3qqnfxydut.pdf

[Jolly Roger]

I have spent most of the weekend researching this question.
As Jeff-H wrote: World sailing issued a ban for Dyneema type ropes for lifelines at their 2015 meeting in Palma, Majorca.
However, in their 2018/19 lifeline materials special regulations this was rescinded after Sailing Australia conducted extensive physical tests on behalf of World Sailing. (See, https://cdn.revolutionise.com.au/cup...3qqnfxydut.pdf) and links, including videos of the tests).
Also see https://www.sailing.org/tools/docume...5d.pdf#page=15
Thanks for all your input. JR

[jdazey]

From Section 2.9,US Sailing 2020 SERs for multihulls:


Each multihull shall have one or a combination of netting, coamings, bulwarks, railings, lifelines or
jacklines, extending from the aft most part of the cockpit or steering station to the aft most part of
the central pulpit or forestay, to keep the crew aboard while sailing and sail handling in conditions
expected for Offshore, Coastal or Inshore racing. If lifelines are used, they may be either stainless or
HMPE with a minimum diameter of 3/16” (5mm), they must be taut, supported at distances of no
greater than 87” (2.2 m), and be a minimum of 24” (762 mm) above the deck with a maximum
vertical gap of 15” (381mm)

[gamayun]

I've been using Dyneema lifelines for 7 years now and will keep the hardware when I remove them. My boat (a monohull) always had covered stainless previously so wasn't worried about chafe and no one hangs from the lifelines when I race. Alas, the writing has been on the wall for a while now. The 2022 race I'll be in requires steel. They were actually purchased for the 2020 race that was cancelled due to Covid, but I never replaced them. Anyway, I'm one who's going to miss the Dynemma. Done right (and recognizing the chafe potential) they're great. Once I go cruising and no longer race, then I'll put them back on.

[Eleuthera 2014]

We did the change from covered SS to dyneema about 6 months ago. Took me about 4 hours working slowly . The result is very nice and my stanchions are fitted with grommets so chafing should never become an issue.

[fxykty]

Our SS wire lifelines are approaching their end of life. We have gates on both sides (just two stanchions close together, with shore wire runs and pelican hooks). The upper and lower lifelines finish with turnbuckles to pad eyes at both ends of the boat (no pushpits nor pulpits).

So I’m thinking of using 5mm uncovered Dyneema, with short sections of covers stitched through where the lifelines go through each stanchion. We will luggage tag the eyes to either gate stanchion and run forward and back respectively to an open thimble, then lash from the thimble to the pad eye.

For the gate, luggage tagged to the stanchion and a loop and dog bone at the other end. It needs to have firm but not super tight tension to properly support the lifelines running fore and aft.

How do others do their gates? I don’t want to use any hardware if possible.