Replacing/modifying lifelines

S

SailsCallCapt

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May 16, 2017
4
Hunter '91 Legend 35.5 Clearwater Florida
I have parallel lifelines on my 35.5 Hunter Legend ('91) but want to take the top line at the bow and shorten it so as to angle it down, putting the pelican catch on the lower attachment eye on the pulpit, to stop the jib from chafing on the lifeline.
Is this a job for a professional? Any tips on cutting the life line, removing the swage, and reattaching the old or replacement swage would be very helpful.
 
DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
should be an easy diy project. Just cut off the old end and replace it with a Norseman type.
There are Youtube videos that will show in detail how to go about it...
When cutting the lifeline make sure there are no burrs left on the end.
As you install the new fitting avoid overlapping the outer wrap wires and keep the inner wires extended the proper distance through the cone. Use 2 wrenches and be sure the fitting is tight with a proper ammonia free sealant in the fitting.
 
Last edited:
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Ken Cross

Ken Cross

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Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
In our area, most suppliers seem to be afraid of swedging lifelines. They want you to order new. Our local WM as a swedging device in the store for customer use, but the sign says it's not for lifeline use. (At least it did a couple years ago).

Ken
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,786
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Ken is correct. The issue is a hand clamp cannot produce the force to properly swage the fitting to the lifeline.
In Seattle the WM shop on the south side of the Ballard canal has a hydraulic swage machine. They do lifeline swaging.
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,191
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
While you are focused on your 1991 vintage lifelines, note that like the vertical parts of your standing rig, any safe "useful life" beyond about 15 years puts you well into the "Hope and Prayer" part of safety.

Best just to spec out the new lifelines to the design that you want now. You will also be pleasantly surprised by improvements in gate hardware, i. e. the Sherman Johnson pelican hooks with the one-hand closure design.
Go with bare ss wire, too. No vinyl.
 
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Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Even if it would work, which other have warned against and rightly so, the difference in length likely won't fit.
 
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Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,861
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
jssailem said:
That would be the angle of the dangle needs to be longer than a straight line.
Click to expand
Not that I'm necessarily recommending it but that could possibly be overcome by adding a turnbuckle or splicing in a short length of Dyneema.
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
jssailem said:
That would be the angle of the dangle needs to be longer than a straight line.
Click to expand
and that angle needs to not allow the nice shiny hardware to intersect with nice shiny gelcoat on the deck when it comes apart and puts a big freakin divot in it because you've put nice shiny new hardware on 30 year old corroded wire. Does that about sum it up?
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,786
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Let me clarify before I get flamed....
@SailsCallCapt I would advise against your thoughts of redesigning aged lifelines as appears to be under consideration.
  1. Can you run the lifeline to the deck at the bow to reduce sail chafe?
    1. Yes. It compromises the purpose of lifelines at the bow but it can be done.
  2. Is it the best way to address the issue?
    1. Probably not. If you want to reduce the chafe of the sail and still maintain a lifeline protecting you at the bow, then raise the sail above the deck. Add a length of line so the tack is at a height that clears the lifeline and bow pulpit.
Of Course there are no requirements that you must have lifelines to operate your boat.

If you race there are rules that say to race you must have lifelines. If you race in the ocean there are specific requirements for the lifelines (i.e. they may not be vinyl covered wire).

It is your boat and your choice.
 
S

SailsCallCapt

.
May 16, 2017
4
Hunter '91 Legend 35.5 Clearwater Florida
Thanks Doug, I was hoping to use the old fitting (turnbuckle) but I guess it is impossible to "uncrimp" a fitting.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
There are lifeline fittings out there that can be hand swagged, but you can't just use any old swage tool. You need the one from the manufacture that works safely with their fittings and wire.

We are putting all new lines on the Endeavour and bought a Suncor hand swage tool...

http://www.suncorstainless.com/hand-swager-0

to use with their fittings that work with the tool.

http://www.suncorstainless.com/taxonomy/term/35

It is expensive and not worth buying unless you are going to replace all the lines like we are and I found one new for $90. It would be nice if someone rented these tools out.

Sumner
===============================================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
Ron20324 said:
Some boats come OEM with exactly what OP is trying to do.
Click to expand
Yeah but that’s the point. Oem in this case is 30 years old. You willing to bet your life on that? A nice shiny new clamp on corroded old wire isn’t very safe, no matter what it’s crimped with.
 
Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,861
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
Meriachee said:
Yeah but that’s the point. Oem in this case is 30 years old. You willing to bet your life on that? A nice shiny new clamp on corroded old wire isn’t very safe, no matter what it’s crimped with.
Click to expand
Who said his wire is 30 years old? Quite possibly, and hopefully, it has been replaced somewhere along the line and may be relatively new.
 
Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
The op said it was a 30 year old boat without any indication the lines have been replaced.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,786
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
@Richard19068 that is a good statement. The OP did not state an age of his lines. He stated the boat is from 1991, which if original lines would make the wire 27 years old.
The OP indicates the boat is used in the Gulf of Mexico. SS wire is known to have a shorter life in climates nearer the tropics than the colder latitudes. The water exposure would be Salt - Marine environ another strike at the SS wire.
A lot of ifs. And the OP was questioning about "job for a Professional".

One of the statements would raise an eyebrow, all of them together would suggest a cautionary approach and professional inspection is a reasonable action.

Then the beauty of a free country is "It is your Boat" you are free to accept or reject the free opinions of the participants on this site. It is what makes the forum an interesting place to share ideas.
 
Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,861
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
Richard19068 said:
Who said his wire is 30 years old? Quite possibly, and hopefully, it has been replaced somewhere along the line and may be relatively new.
Click to expand
jssailem said:
@Richard19068 that is a good statement. The OP did not state an age of his lines. He stated the boat is from 1991, which if original lines would make the wire 27 years old.
The OP indicates the boat is used in the Gulf of Mexico. SS wire is known to have a shorter life in climates nearer the tropics than the colder latitudes. The water exposure would be Salt - Marine environ another strike at the SS wire.
A lot of ifs. And the OP was questioning about "job for a Professional".

One of the statements would raise an eyebrow, all of them together would suggest a cautionary approach and professional inspection is a reasonable action.

Then the beauty of a free country is "It is your Boat" you are free to accept or reject the free opinions of the participants on this site. It is what makes the forum an interesting place to share ideas.
Click to expand
Good words. If in deed the wire is near 30 years old then it takes away all questions. The whole setup should be replaced and he can configure it as he wants.
 
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Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Meriachee said:
Yeah but that’s the point. Oem in this case is 30 years old. ....
Click to expand
Not really. I was changing the lifelines on my new B323 because I was bow in and needed opening LL on the bow. I made it like the OEM, but down to the toerail, not pulpit.. Cripes, you can fall over a full lifeline, so why not make them 42 inches?
 
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