I'm trying to decide between replacing my lifelines with 3/16" coated lifeline cable, or 1/4" Amsteel 12 strand line. Johnson now makes lifeline fittings for line. Given that the 1/4 " Amsteel has a higher breaking strength than the 3/16" cable, and no swage fittings to fail, it would appear to be an attractive alternate to cable. Any thoughts on this issue would be welcome.
Amsteel Lifelines
- Thread starter Tony2945
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Endura12??
Tony I have been thinking about this for a while. In the archives I think there is some discussion of this. Also I believe the Navy has gone to rope lifelines. A lot of people mention Amsteel12. I wondered if anyone had experience with New England's Endura12 which is 1000 lb stronger. Good Winds DaveM s/v DAMWEGAS
Tony I have been thinking about this for a while. In the archives I think there is some discussion of this. Also I believe the Navy has gone to rope lifelines. A lot of people mention Amsteel12. I wondered if anyone had experience with New England's Endura12 which is 1000 lb stronger. Good Winds DaveM s/v DAMWEGAS
I totally agree.
I'm going to Amsteel for my lifelines too. Only problem is they are not yet ORC approved for racing. ORC has been considering the change, but alas they are damn slow to move. It's insane what they allow to pass as "Coast Guard Approved" and is in effect useless, yet a real improvement can't get accepted.
I'm going to Amsteel for my lifelines too. Only problem is they are not yet ORC approved for racing. ORC has been considering the change, but alas they are damn slow to move. It's insane what they allow to pass as "Coast Guard Approved" and is in effect useless, yet a real improvement can't get accepted.
Other issues
Tensile breaking strength is not the only issue involved with lifelines. One reason that lighter (but "stronger") synthetic line has not replaced wire lifelines is chafe. Many synthetic lines do not stand up well to chafe, and so would need to be carefully checked along their entire lengths before each sortie. Do you have an extra half hour to spend doing this every time you go out, or every day of a cruise? Other synthetic lines succumb to UV rays. After weeks in the sun, they become brittle (!!) and subject to... chafe! Think of the spectacular failures of some kevlar sails. This is why. Amsteel may not be subject to these problems, but no one's mentioned these two important (life-threatening?) points in regard to it in this thread.
Tensile breaking strength is not the only issue involved with lifelines. One reason that lighter (but "stronger") synthetic line has not replaced wire lifelines is chafe. Many synthetic lines do not stand up well to chafe, and so would need to be carefully checked along their entire lengths before each sortie. Do you have an extra half hour to spend doing this every time you go out, or every day of a cruise? Other synthetic lines succumb to UV rays. After weeks in the sun, they become brittle (!!) and subject to... chafe! Think of the spectacular failures of some kevlar sails. This is why. Amsteel may not be subject to these problems, but no one's mentioned these two important (life-threatening?) points in regard to it in this thread.
Amsteel terminations
See page 6: http://www.csjohnson.com/catalogs/2005_johnson_marine.pdf then page 2: http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/pdf/grants/osu/hartterinvestigate.pdf
See page 6: http://www.csjohnson.com/catalogs/2005_johnson_marine.pdf then page 2: http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/pdf/grants/osu/hartterinvestigate.pdf
Paul points out....
...some very interesting questions. First, chafe is something that needs to be considered. Amsteel is EXTREMELY chafe reistant. I've seen Amsteel used as dock line in a nor'easter, only to wind up cutting throught the dock that the boat was tide up to. The line was in fine shape, but the dock planks had to be replaced. As for UV, Amsteel comes with a UV coating on it and you can renew that coating. I do it with my halyards once a year, takes about 20 minutes each.
...some very interesting questions. First, chafe is something that needs to be considered. Amsteel is EXTREMELY chafe reistant. I've seen Amsteel used as dock line in a nor'easter, only to wind up cutting throught the dock that the boat was tide up to. The line was in fine shape, but the dock planks had to be replaced. As for UV, Amsteel comes with a UV coating on it and you can renew that coating. I do it with my halyards once a year, takes about 20 minutes each.
Life of Amsteel
From the comments in the Johnson catalog regarding using Amsteel in lifelines they reccomend swapping out every three years. I'm not sure how conservative that is, but I'm sure steel cable has a longer life expectancy, no? Of course if you are a competent at splicing line, this may not be such a bad alternative
From the comments in the Johnson catalog regarding using Amsteel in lifelines they reccomend swapping out every three years. I'm not sure how conservative that is, but I'm sure steel cable has a longer life expectancy, no? Of course if you are a competent at splicing line, this may not be such a bad alternative
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