life line netting

[Skip Skolnik]

I am considering adding a netting on my life lines. Are there any suggestions on the instalation. I have seen these nettings look good and real bad.How does the netting attach to the stantions, life line and hull.I have a catalina 27Any installation suggestions would be greatThanksSkip"Kid Knapper"

 

[Hayden Watson]

Here is how I did it

I have had netting on my last 2 boats and I love it. I will probably never sail with out it.The key to installing netting well is for it to be tight. You must stretch it both vertically and horizontally for it to work well and look good. You attach the netting by weaving the top and middle life lines though the netting and running a tight nylon line though the bottom. I attached a 1/4” 3-strand nylon line to the base of the pullpit and ran it back through the base of each stanchion. It is tied to the last one as tight as I can get it. The line goes from there to the base of the pullpit. I used a Stanchion eye (WM page 809) to give me a ring at the base which I clip a small snap carabiner to. The line is then run through the carabiner then up to the eye of the pelican hook. By leaving the carabiner loose you can snap the lifelines up then use the stretch in the nylon to hook the carabiner.There are two advantages to this method. 1. You get the line at the gate much tighter than otherwise possible. 2. When you open the gate, the netting goes with it so you don’t have it under foot when getting on board.The best compliment I have had on the netting is when a guy with a boat farther down my dock was complimenting me on how nice my boat looked. I mentioned that I really like the netting and he said “Oh you have netting on your boat!” In a year of walking by my boat he had noticed the boat but never noticed the netting.Hayden Watson1988 C30tr/bsPapillonSpokane,WA

 

[Steve Baltes]

Another variation

I installed netting on my 91 Catalina 28 last year. I purchased the plastic "Rings" (about 1" I believe) that were shown in the catalog along with the netting. I used the rings about every 6 inches on both the top and bottom lifelines. Then I also added a 1/4" nylon line at the base of the stanchions and secured to the base of the Push/Pulpits on either side of the boat to keep it tight vertically. At the rear of the boat I used Tie-Wraps to keep the netting tight around the push pit rails. I think it looked great! Now, we were in a slip stern-first so I never had to deal with opening the lifelines which would be a problem the way I rigged it. I wanted to fully enclose the cockpit as well as the side decks for security.And likewise, after the usual questions at first about what kind of pet I kept on board (it's actually there to keep grandkids on board!!) most of my dock neighbors never gave it any notice. I'll likely add the same thing to my next boat as well. The Hunter 320 is "En Route"!!The netting has never been a problem sailing, and besides catching the Granddaughter several time it also kept caps and other items from being blown overboard. Overall a good investment, not hard to do very worthwhile.Go for it.