newbie here I noticed my lifelines slant down at the bow,is this so you can run the jib outside the lifelines ?
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Downside.
I'm sure you are right about it being sloped down to allow the sail to keep it's shape. The downside of that down slope I find is that where I could use a safety rail the most, it ain't there. A good times more than once I've had to go right up front , usually to mess with the furling gear, and had to take that leap across what is essentially an open space at that location to get right to the bow. If the bow is kicking up and down like an upset mule at the time, that's no fun. Naturally I take all sorts of precautions on days like that, but going overboard at that location would be a lot easer than most places on the boat. I wonder if anybody has found netting to be a satisfactory solution to this. Jim G.
I'm sure you are right about it being sloped down to allow the sail to keep it's shape. The downside of that down slope I find is that where I could use a safety rail the most, it ain't there. A good times more than once I've had to go right up front , usually to mess with the furling gear, and had to take that leap across what is essentially an open space at that location to get right to the bow. If the bow is kicking up and down like an upset mule at the time, that's no fun. Naturally I take all sorts of precautions on days like that, but going overboard at that location would be a lot easer than most places on the boat. I wonder if anybody has found netting to be a satisfactory solution to this. Jim G.
Old school
Back in the day ...
The large Genoas were sheeted outboard to the rail, close to the winch. The sail had to be outside the lifelines. Dipping the upper lifeline to the deck allows the sail to set better on raching courses, but sheeting outboard of the lifelines also limits windward ability. That configuration has not been legal in offshore racing for many years. Modern sail cloth and current shapes are usually sheeted inboard of the lifelines and the dip is not needed.
Back in the day ...
The large Genoas were sheeted outboard to the rail, close to the winch. The sail had to be outside the lifelines. Dipping the upper lifeline to the deck allows the sail to set better on raching courses, but sheeting outboard of the lifelines also limits windward ability. That configuration has not been legal in offshore racing for many years. Modern sail cloth and current shapes are usually sheeted inboard of the lifelines and the dip is not needed.Here is an idea
The Cat 30 that I have has the same situation. I have decided to locate the end of the life line up on the bow pulpit. I havent found a suitable tubimg fitting to convert the routing however. I am not fond of taking the pulpit apart to slip a fitting onto the tubing, if that is even possible. My furling jib does not sweep the deck, so the sail location is not a problem. Any ideas would be appreciated to make this area safer. John
The Cat 30 that I have has the same situation. I have decided to locate the end of the life line up on the bow pulpit. I havent found a suitable tubimg fitting to convert the routing however. I am not fond of taking the pulpit apart to slip a fitting onto the tubing, if that is even possible. My furling jib does not sweep the deck, so the sail location is not a problem. Any ideas would be appreciated to make this area safer. John
John, simply find a clamp that goes onto
one inch or 7/8 inch tubing, one with a clip at the end, and run your lifeline to that. Buy or make one, lotsa clamps out there. Or simply weld a small ring - go look at the pulpits in your marina. Our C25 had that sloping lifeline, too. I agree it was dangerous to go forward with that arrangement. What you do is put a pendant on the tack of the jib and raise the foot higher to over the bow pulpit, or get a furling system with a higher drum. Then the bottom of the sail is above the pulpit and lifeline and you can run the lifeline straight. If you're a die hard racer, you'd want the foot of the sail as close to the deck as possible. Can't have it both ways. Your boat, your choice.
one inch or 7/8 inch tubing, one with a clip at the end, and run your lifeline to that. Buy or make one, lotsa clamps out there. Or simply weld a small ring - go look at the pulpits in your marina. Our C25 had that sloping lifeline, too. I agree it was dangerous to go forward with that arrangement. What you do is put a pendant on the tack of the jib and raise the foot higher to over the bow pulpit, or get a furling system with a higher drum. Then the bottom of the sail is above the pulpit and lifeline and you can run the lifeline straight. If you're a die hard racer, you'd want the foot of the sail as close to the deck as possible. Can't have it both ways. Your boat, your choice.
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