Jib and Stanchions/Lifelines

[Dana Shields]

My last boat was a Catalina 22 and the lifelines routed from the foremost stanchion to the deck before the pulpit. This left a lot of room for the jib.

On the Hunter 27 Cherubini I just purchased, the lifelines attach to the pulpit. The prior owner had the jib (not self-furling) rigged so that was a couple feet up the mainstay to make room for it. However, it didn't look like the correct way to rig the boat.

Given the height of the topmost lifeline, what is the correct way to rig the jib and its sheets?

 

[Ron20324]

The upper lifeline is always good for safety's sake. On my boat , at the pulpit end, I added a pelican hook . Take the LL off when sailing. Best of both worlds.

 

[rardiH36]

If you haven't stumbled upon it yet, the below link connects to SBO's Cherubini Hunter 27 page. Being a new owner, the resource might be of interest in general.

Specifically to your question, open the photo gallery page. A number of the photos show how other owners have installed their jibs. And of course the photos show the lifeline attachments at the bow pulpit.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/resources/index.php?task=model&mid=17

 

[Joe]

Where you tack the jib is strictly by preference... however... the sail's hoist will limit how high you can go.
One option, is to attach the lifeline lower on the pulpit... then tack the jib at the deck. This will let you set the sail outside the lifelines without distorting it. Using a pendant to raise the tack high enough to clear the lifelines is common... I have a couple different length pendants in my rigging box that allow me that option.

 

[thinwater]

The upper lifeline is always good for safety's sake. On my boat , at the pulpit end, I added a pelican hook . Take the LL off when sailing. Best of both worlds.

So the lifeline is not needed while sailing. Just at the dock?
An alternative anchor point at deck level might be comprehensible.

 

[jssailem]

So the lifeline is not needed while sailing. Just at the dock?

That is not a logical assumption. Life line implies that it somehow saves lives. In a sea which causes the bow to buck like a bronco and the boat needs a crew to attend to a task on the bow, the life line serves as a last resort to stopping the crew from being thrown into the sea. If you are the crew member need and want maybe the same thing.

 

[Capt jgw]

An elegant solution I've seen on some larger boats is an additional stanchion and diagonal brace set just aft and inboard of the aft pulpit base. The lifeline terminates at this stanchion, and it leaves a slot for the jib to form it's natural shape just above the deck. The lifeline remains at its full height throughout. Personally I don't like deck sweeping jibs, mine are carried high enough that I can see under them, and that keeps them off the lifeline as well.

 

[Ron20324]

So the lifeline is not needed while sailing. Just at the dock?
An alternative anchor point at deck level might be comprehensible.

That was the idea of adding the pelican hook at one end.