It goes against the dogma but I've never liked lifelines. Mostly because I've been almost impaled by stanchions. They always seem to low to catch you and if you bend over to grab one it puts you off balance. It also seems like a lot of people slide under them without being able to catch one to prevent going overboard. My fear is falling into a stanchion and breaking some ribs then falling overboard. Any experiences out there with lifelines??? Good or bad. I know a couple of weekends ago they kept my wife from going overboard as she was tying on a fender. But she was sitting down and leaning over and just needed to grab something. She could have just as easily grabbed the cabin top handrail.
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Rebar Caps ...an option
Maybe you could start a new trend or fashion with the installation of those orange safety-mandated rebar caps to prevent just that impaling that you have an aversion to.... But on the other hand, it may start those OSHA-mongers down the boat safety trail....(don't go there). I kinda view of the lifelines as a last line of defense before the throwable ring on the back rail... still more of a plus than negative.
Maybe you could start a new trend or fashion with the installation of those orange safety-mandated rebar caps to prevent just that impaling that you have an aversion to.... But on the other hand, it may start those OSHA-mongers down the boat safety trail....(don't go there). I kinda view of the lifelines as a last line of defense before the throwable ring on the back rail... still more of a plus than negative.
To many times to count
They have stopped me from going in more times than I can already count. I normally step wrong on the front slope of the 1974 Hunter 25 and it sends me to the side. Especially when there is a slippery deck. It may have something to do with your height. I am 5'2" and I have no problem grabbing them. I guess it also has to do with how clumsy you are. I named my boat Calamity for a reason.
They have stopped me from going in more times than I can already count. I normally step wrong on the front slope of the 1974 Hunter 25 and it sends me to the side. Especially when there is a slippery deck. It may have something to do with your height. I am 5'2" and I have no problem grabbing them. I guess it also has to do with how clumsy you are. I named my boat Calamity for a reason.
Last resort is right
When we were buying our boat our surveyor was testing the strength of the lines and unwisly applied all his weight to the line....you guessed it..it snapped he went into the drink and we had our first man overboard drill....It was an wakening especially since it was January in Annapolis! Turns out the wire had corroded through in a number of places...needless to say we had it fized before we took possession. last defense.
When we were buying our boat our surveyor was testing the strength of the lines and unwisly applied all his weight to the line....you guessed it..it snapped he went into the drink and we had our first man overboard drill....It was an wakening especially since it was January in Annapolis! Turns out the wire had corroded through in a number of places...needless to say we had it fized before we took possession. last defense.
Tom, going overboard is probably the worst
thing that can happen to you short of going overboard because the boom took your head off. Have you been reading books about suicide via falling on a sword? Underway, you must stay low and keep one hand for the boat. It's a non-issue then.
thing that can happen to you short of going overboard because the boom took your head off. Have you been reading books about suicide via falling on a sword? Underway, you must stay low and keep one hand for the boat. It's a non-issue then.
the wonders of vinyl
The wonderous ability of white vinyl to hide rusting lifelines is why coated lifelines are no longer allowed by the governing bodies for off-shore racing. In fact, many new boats come with plain s.s. lifelines.
The wonderous ability of white vinyl to hide rusting lifelines is why coated lifelines are no longer allowed by the governing bodies for off-shore racing. In fact, many new boats come with plain s.s. lifelines.
Never used the lifelines
I do all of the deck work especially in the open bay or ocean. On our old Macgregor 26 I removed the lifelines. Decided that it was safer without them. We used it in a lake and were usually near shore. After thinking about it it seemed safer to just swim to shore than try to pull someone back on board. Even in cold water it seemed like getting to shore would be quicker than to try to get someone back on board. My wife is a small woman and would be unable to help me get back on board. Now that we are sailing in bigger water swiming to shore is not an option. I will buy a life sling soon. And we will see if my wife can lift me using the two speed winch. We have harnesses so that hopefully no one will ever go overboard. After 14 years of sailing regularly together no one has ever went overboard. Lucky I guess.
I do all of the deck work especially in the open bay or ocean. On our old Macgregor 26 I removed the lifelines. Decided that it was safer without them. We used it in a lake and were usually near shore. After thinking about it it seemed safer to just swim to shore than try to pull someone back on board. Even in cold water it seemed like getting to shore would be quicker than to try to get someone back on board. My wife is a small woman and would be unable to help me get back on board. Now that we are sailing in bigger water swiming to shore is not an option. I will buy a life sling soon. And we will see if my wife can lift me using the two speed winch. We have harnesses so that hopefully no one will ever go overboard. After 14 years of sailing regularly together no one has ever went overboard. Lucky I guess.
Issue of preference.
I believe (but haven't checked) that they are required equipment for most sanctioned offshore racing events. Like many bureaucratic requirements, this is probably included more to protect the sponsoring organization rather than because it is based upon an objective study of the efficacy of the lines as a safety device. That said, I have, and will continue to have, double lines aboard. In over 35 years of sailing they have kept my bum on-board countless times. Not because they have caught me during some wild tumble. Simply because, oftentimes, it only takes a light touch to correct an incipient loss of balance and keep it from becoming a tumble or the preventing the beginnings of a slip from becoming an inundating slide. On my last boat, a Cal-27 T/2, I replaced the white vinyl coated lines with clear coated lines. I really liked having the ability to visually check the condition of the lines. The obvious rusting at the ends has convinced me to go with uncovered lines when I replace them on our current boat. Stainless steel just doesn't tolerate a wet, anaerobic environment. In support of the comments that suggest ditching the lines altogether. They really are unlikely to stop a falling body from going overboard. I try to never rely on them for this purpose, and always try to keep 'one hand for me and one for the boat'. When single-handing or in rough weather, I use and require harness, tether and jacklines. There is no substitute for common sense. It doesn't take a genius to look at those spindly wires and stanchions and realize that they are, for the most part, merely a security blanket. Security blankets are helpful but not to be relied on.
I believe (but haven't checked) that they are required equipment for most sanctioned offshore racing events. Like many bureaucratic requirements, this is probably included more to protect the sponsoring organization rather than because it is based upon an objective study of the efficacy of the lines as a safety device. That said, I have, and will continue to have, double lines aboard. In over 35 years of sailing they have kept my bum on-board countless times. Not because they have caught me during some wild tumble. Simply because, oftentimes, it only takes a light touch to correct an incipient loss of balance and keep it from becoming a tumble or the preventing the beginnings of a slip from becoming an inundating slide. On my last boat, a Cal-27 T/2, I replaced the white vinyl coated lines with clear coated lines. I really liked having the ability to visually check the condition of the lines. The obvious rusting at the ends has convinced me to go with uncovered lines when I replace them on our current boat. Stainless steel just doesn't tolerate a wet, anaerobic environment. In support of the comments that suggest ditching the lines altogether. They really are unlikely to stop a falling body from going overboard. I try to never rely on them for this purpose, and always try to keep 'one hand for me and one for the boat'. When single-handing or in rough weather, I use and require harness, tether and jacklines. There is no substitute for common sense. It doesn't take a genius to look at those spindly wires and stanchions and realize that they are, for the most part, merely a security blanket. Security blankets are helpful but not to be relied on.
Another purpose?
Gang I wonder if the real purpose of lifelines is for attaching a harness or sling to, not really trying to stop a body from going overboard, which they aren't very good at. I figure that they are there as an attachment point only for a line to the PFD or survival suit or whatever. Just thinking out loud. Ron
Gang I wonder if the real purpose of lifelines is for attaching a harness or sling to, not really trying to stop a body from going overboard, which they aren't very good at. I figure that they are there as an attachment point only for a line to the PFD or survival suit or whatever. Just thinking out loud. Ron
Lifelines are not Jacklines.
Everything I have read states that harnesses should not be attached to lifelines (they are not strong enough). The first rule is to never fall in period. If you stay low and use the lifeline to steady yourself you significantly reduce the risk of slipping and especially going over the lifeline. If you are worried about going under the lifeline use netting to eliminate that possibility. If the weather is so bad you need a harness rig a very taunt jackline from bow to stern cleats (we use reinforced webbing) and clip on to this. You can also rig "strong point" at various points to clip onto. The idea that you would rather fall overboard and swim to shore reminds me of not using seatbelts because you would rather be "thrown clear" of the accident. Russell
Everything I have read states that harnesses should not be attached to lifelines (they are not strong enough). The first rule is to never fall in period. If you stay low and use the lifeline to steady yourself you significantly reduce the risk of slipping and especially going over the lifeline. If you are worried about going under the lifeline use netting to eliminate that possibility. If the weather is so bad you need a harness rig a very taunt jackline from bow to stern cleats (we use reinforced webbing) and clip on to this. You can also rig "strong point" at various points to clip onto. The idea that you would rather fall overboard and swim to shore reminds me of not using seatbelts because you would rather be "thrown clear" of the accident. Russell
Lifelines
Some things I insist on for myself and anyone else on board. 1. When leaving the cockpit, always use the "high" side and face the center line of the boat. If you slip or fall, you'll be thrown toward the center of the boat rather than overboard. 2. Always have at least one hand on the handrails. 3. When moving, never try to stand but crouch low. Trying to regain balance while erect on a pitching deck can easily result in an unexpected dip. 4. Take your time and make certain that you are secure before you try to do anything. 5. Since the most important thing is to remain aboard, wear a harness and clip on to any strong point or jack line that runs along the centerline. Never, never, never clip on to a lifeline. If you do and go overboard, you may not be able to get back on board. Drag, even at just a few knots of speed is far greater than one usually imagines. If you've ever tried to haul in a five gallon bucket of seawater on a moving boat, you'll know what I mean.
Some things I insist on for myself and anyone else on board. 1. When leaving the cockpit, always use the "high" side and face the center line of the boat. If you slip or fall, you'll be thrown toward the center of the boat rather than overboard. 2. Always have at least one hand on the handrails. 3. When moving, never try to stand but crouch low. Trying to regain balance while erect on a pitching deck can easily result in an unexpected dip. 4. Take your time and make certain that you are secure before you try to do anything. 5. Since the most important thing is to remain aboard, wear a harness and clip on to any strong point or jack line that runs along the centerline. Never, never, never clip on to a lifeline. If you do and go overboard, you may not be able to get back on board. Drag, even at just a few knots of speed is far greater than one usually imagines. If you've ever tried to haul in a five gallon bucket of seawater on a moving boat, you'll know what I mean.
Re: Lifelines (oxymoron) ;D
Lifelines are anything but.... You NEVER attach a harness to lifelines. Jacklines and a short tether. The new J100 that is being built has no LL's. I think you will find more boats will be built in the future without them. For those of you who like the false sense of security replace those vinyl covered SS lines with spectra. Way stronger, no rust, way cheaper, and you can really see when they need replacement.
Lifelines are anything but.... You NEVER attach a harness to lifelines. Jacklines and a short tether. The new J100 that is being built has no LL's. I think you will find more boats will be built in the future without them. For those of you who like the false sense of security replace those vinyl covered SS lines with spectra. Way stronger, no rust, way cheaper, and you can really see when they need replacement.
Yea, don't clip on to lifelines
BUT, if you're going forward on the high side, no jack lines are rigged and there isn't anything to clip on to, you can bet I clip on to the lifeline. I think anything else is theoretical. The only other option is to not clip on to anything or have a 15' two legged tether, the better to snarl about your feet. I do agree that lifelines can be a false security. I sailed a boat for 19 years without them, always with a harness if single-handling. But, it was smaller. For that matter, I find the tethers to be dangerous too when they foul or catch. No free lunch here. Rick D.
BUT, if you're going forward on the high side, no jack lines are rigged and there isn't anything to clip on to, you can bet I clip on to the lifeline. I think anything else is theoretical. The only other option is to not clip on to anything or have a 15' two legged tether, the better to snarl about your feet. I do agree that lifelines can be a false security. I sailed a boat for 19 years without them, always with a harness if single-handling. But, it was smaller. For that matter, I find the tethers to be dangerous too when they foul or catch. No free lunch here. Rick D.
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