Lifeline Crimping

[SVJOCO]

Hello guys!

I’m wanting to redo our lifelines but would need help with crimping the connections at the ends of the wires. We are in the Bahamas now but plan to cross back to the US from Bimini in a few weeks, heading toward Key West.

Can anyone recommend a great person or business?

Jeff & Christin

[Sailor Sailor]

I used a hand marine swaging tool that uses ordinary wrenches. Worked fine when I assembled my own wire rope lifelines.

[Tin Tin]

You can buy a DIY hand swager, mechanical or hydraulic, just need the right sized swage sleeves. Double sleeve if you are not confident. A pair of parrot beak wire cutters are good for a clean cut.

[capt jgw]

StaLok or Hayn fittings are great for this, you install them yourself with wrenches. Initial cost of the fittings looks expensive compared to the rigging shop type, but when you add the labor at the shop it's about equal. And since you cut the wire and install on the boat there won't be any measurements errors. I got mine online at rigging.com.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by SVJOCO

Hello guys!

I’m wanting to redo our lifelines but would need help with crimping the connections at the ends of the wires. We are in the Bahamas now but plan to cross back to the US from Bimini in a few weeks, heading toward Key West.

Can anyone recommend a great person or business?

Jeff & Christin

I had a couple done for me by West Marine somewhere on the East Coast as the two local stores here on MN did not rig. They look good, price was reasonable (lower end of fair market value), and they took the time to explain measurements and answer questions about hardware. This has been a couple or few years but still a pleasant memory and I feel obliged to give them a plug.

[SVJOCO]

Great info across the board guys! Thank you kindly!! Perhaps I’ll make a video when I install it all, so I can share back to the community. SV JOCO

[Brioche]

Definitely worth buying the tool and doing your own, because then you have the tool and can use it whenever you need it.
By the way, cutting the cable to insert it into fittings can require some care -- I have a small block of maple with holes for different cable diameters and then a slot to hacksaw across so as to cut them cleanly and to maintain the compact diameter.