Life line fittings

Steve Dion · Mar 1, 2012

I would never consider hand swedged/crimped fittings.

I would contact Seco South about your lifelines. I do not think you could make them yourself for the price they charge. We got a set made for our Hunter Vision 36 for about $275 + frt. This included new CS Johnson pelican hooks.

FastOlson · Mar 1, 2012

Those new-design Johnson pelican hooks are so superior to the old stuff that there's no comparison. And that goes for the knock-offs on the market that look similar but do not work as well.

I would also advocate for bare ss and machine swaging. Unless your old turn buckles are absolutely pristine, change those out while you're at it.
We did all that, and treated it like a "life insurance" premium expense for family and friends.

L

Tim R. · Mar 1, 2012

I would use the Suncor lifeline kit with uncoated wire.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|297400|983259&id=1034265

Mechanical fitting are superior to swaged fittings especially if you insist on coated wire. Coated wire lifelines usually fail at the swage. Next time you need new lifelines, all the Suncor fittings can be re-used.

At least with the Suncor kit, the coated wire is 316.

Stu Jackson · Mar 1, 2012

We have friends who redid theirs with coated wire. A few months later he reported he made a BIG mistake, 'cuz the coating had already started to turn brown.

Use straight wire,it'll look much, much better, forever.

Johnson hooks are great, use the hints supplied already.

Ron20324 · Mar 1, 2012

I bought the BIG crimping tool and made all my new lifelines, as they would be different from the O.E.M. lifelines. At 250 pounds, I have not yet popped any of the crimps, nor have the "helpers" who fend off by grabbing the lifelines..

GorillaToast · Mar 1, 2012

On a related subject...

I would like to remove the coating from my lifelines. Scraping it off with a knife doesn't seem like a good idea for a variety of reasons. Any tested methods out there?

Steve Dion · Mar 1, 2012

Correction: Life line costs

Correction that should have been $375 + frt. This is still a good deal considering the pelican hooks retail for $40-$50 each and we got 5 (one for the stern pulpit.)

Jimm · Mar 2, 2012

Art Butler said:
Time to replace the life lines. I have decided on covered wire but am torn between machine swaged fittings, hand crimped fittings and the "wedge" fittings. Which are stronger and which are cheaper? Money does not drive my decision as these are safety issues and I have grandchildren, but I also have an admiral who scrutinizes my boat expenses. I am seeking recommendations.
Thanks

I just spent several hours stripping the coating off my life lines -- covers up provenance and provides no benefit unless cosmetic.

GorillaToast · Mar 2, 2012

Jimm said:
I just spent several hours stripping the coating off my life lines -- covers up provenance and provides no benefit unless cosmetic.

How?

Sharp knife?

Special tool?

Chemical?

Inquiring mind wants to know.

alexco38 · Mar 2, 2012

Box cutter. Just like stripping copper wire. Usually called "Snaking" or "skinning a snake".

Keep the lifeline tight on a vise or something. You can use the knife and shave the plastic to make it thinner on one side without touching the SS wire underneath. Now peel back the plastic like a snake.

tsheie · Mar 2, 2012

I've been very happy with the Hahn/Hi-Mod compression fittings, both for rigging and lifelines.. easy to attach (3/16"/19strand wire) and removable if necessary..

tsheie · Mar 3, 2012

Get a copy of "Good Old Boat" magazine from May/June 2010--it's got two excellent 'how-to' articles, one on fittings, one on lifelines.. All your questions answered in one place! http://www.goodoldboat.com/

GorillaToast · Mar 3, 2012

Actually, there's a tool we use in the golf business to strip the tape off the golf climb shaft while regripping. I pan to fashion a smaller version of it tomorrow and see how it works on the lifelines.

I'll post pics if it's a success.

LuzSD · Mar 3, 2012

FastOlson said:
Those new-design Johnson pelican hooks are so superior to the old stuff that there's no comparison. And that goes for the knock-offs on the market that look similar but do not work as well.

I would also advocate for bare ss and machine swaging. Unless your old turn buckles are absolutely pristine, change those out while you're at it.
We did all that, and treated it like a "life insurance" premium expense for family and friends.

L

Totally agree with FastOlson, we did exactly same thing and it was our first and best upgrade. Well worth doing!

MrBee · Mar 5, 2012

Stu Jackson said:
We have friends who redid theirs with coated wire. A few months later he reported he made a BIG mistake, 'cuz the coating had already started to turn brown.

Use straight wire,it'll look much, much better, forever.

Johnson hooks are great, use the hints supplied already.

Do you know what brand they used ? I just read a review on the "Suncor" kits that Tim mentions and the user said they started showing rust and cracked pvc coating within 2 years. We are also replacing ours and was thinking of the suncor kit till I read that review. I think we will be going with a better grade of material.
I understand the opinions against coated but also have seen boats with coated wire that was in good condition and lasted many years.
What ever wire we use we will be buying the reusable fittings. The wire is the cheap part, easy to replace as often as needed with reusable fittings.

Brian

mitiempo · Mar 5, 2012

The problem with coated wire is that it can look good when it's not in good condition.

LuzSD · Mar 5, 2012

Lifelines are tricky...... they can look ok or pretty bad for a long time, and when coated you really don't know what you have...... but it is very scary when they give way and I can't imagine putting anything but the best possible when replacing them.
But, as I think Stu is fond of saying..........your boat, your choice.......