Life Lines
- Thread starter Jkenny13
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Do yourself a favor and replace the lifelines with whatever color 12 strand spectra line you choose. Spectra in much more 'hand' friendly, is stronger than steel cable and highly chafe resistant. You can buy gate hooks that are specifically made for line connections. Also you will spend less to upgrade to spectra.
I replaced all of my life lines a couple years ago. Decided to use a company I found on line. http://www.riggingonly.com/ I was able to re-use everything but the threaded studs. You can give them the measurements or send the old lines to them. Turn around time in my case was less than two weeks. I spent less than $300 for 4 lines and a gate. Great customer service over the phone too. And no I'm not affiliated with them.
lifeline replacement
We just replaced our lifelines on our Hunter Passage 42: upper and lower lifelines on each side, two side gates, and two separate stern gates. We used Seco South (secosouth.com), and just mailed them our old ones. Two day turnaround and a total cost of about $450. Excellent customer service; we dealt with a fellow there named John Edwards. No commercial connection; just a happy customer.
As an aside, they also recently replaced every single piece of our standing rigging, including all terminal fittings, turnbuckles, special Harken studs, a couple new Norseman fittings and all new Norseman cones for our backstay insulators, inner forestay, etc. Total cost: $2,016. Three day turnaround, and heroic customer service on that one.
We just replaced our lifelines on our Hunter Passage 42: upper and lower lifelines on each side, two side gates, and two separate stern gates. We used Seco South (secosouth.com), and just mailed them our old ones. Two day turnaround and a total cost of about $450. Excellent customer service; we dealt with a fellow there named John Edwards. No commercial connection; just a happy customer.
As an aside, they also recently replaced every single piece of our standing rigging, including all terminal fittings, turnbuckles, special Harken studs, a couple new Norseman fittings and all new Norseman cones for our backstay insulators, inner forestay, etc. Total cost: $2,016. Three day turnaround, and heroic customer service on that one.
What size diameter would you use for lifelines? Also, how would the lines connect to the gate hooks? Pics would be great.
Last summer I replaced the 23 year old corroded vinyl covered 1/8' stainless steel life lines and hardware with bare 3/16" 316 stainless steel life lines and new hardware on my hhunter 31. Installed cost by a local rigger was about equal to the cost of materials from West Marine and several on-line sources. It was installed in a less than a day during the week so I did not lose any sailing weekends. They look great.
Jkenny13,
Follow-up response to your lifeline query. Traditionally, lifelines have been made of 7X7 white vinyl coated cable. Boats racing under ISAF or ORC regulations must use uncoated stainless steel cable. As Alan indicated 12 Strand Spectra or Dyneema line I understand is becoming more popular for cruising boats and boats not racing under offshore regulations as it is very strong, UV resistant, easily installed (no tools required) and does not rust.
The cost depends on your boat’s lifeline configuration such as one vs. two lifelines, number of gates and therefore the number of NEW pelican hooks, turnbuckles, toggles and gate eyes. Lineline cable and labor cost is low. The major cost is in the other hardware. If you simplify the configuration and re-use your hardware you can significantly minimize your cost.
I installed 3/16” 1x19 316 stainless steel bare wire. My cost was higher than average because my configuration has 3 gates and I replaced all my old hardware.
Follow-up response to your lifeline query. Traditionally, lifelines have been made of 7X7 white vinyl coated cable. Boats racing under ISAF or ORC regulations must use uncoated stainless steel cable. As Alan indicated 12 Strand Spectra or Dyneema line I understand is becoming more popular for cruising boats and boats not racing under offshore regulations as it is very strong, UV resistant, easily installed (no tools required) and does not rust.
The cost depends on your boat’s lifeline configuration such as one vs. two lifelines, number of gates and therefore the number of NEW pelican hooks, turnbuckles, toggles and gate eyes. Lineline cable and labor cost is low. The major cost is in the other hardware. If you simplify the configuration and re-use your hardware you can significantly minimize your cost.
I will stay with Stainless (coated or uncoated). My current life lines were 16 years old and just looked crappy. I have not tried to disect them to see if they were failing, but I bet not.
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=102060&st=25
Stainless life lines are a proven product, so unless you have a burning desire to save a little weight I do not see why you would want lines made from these low stretch fabrics.
If I would have used my old pelican hooks, I could have saved $175 (5) off of my $375 price. I doubt that I would come anywhere close to this price with Spectra or Dyneema line and the fittings required to secure this "high tech" line.
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=102060&st=25
Stainless life lines are a proven product, so unless you have a burning desire to save a little weight I do not see why you would want lines made from these low stretch fabrics.
If I would have used my old pelican hooks, I could have saved $175 (5) off of my $375 price. I doubt that I would come anywhere close to this price with Spectra or Dyneema line and the fittings required to secure this "high tech" line.
What I have learned on this forum is that everyone has really good recommendations based on their experience. As an engineer I try to identify alternatives and their pros and cons. Agree with Steve that 316 stainless steel cable is proven. So the engineer in me selected 316 stainless steel cable because I like the look and feel of bare 316 stainless steel cable and it mitigates corrosion under vinyl. Besides my wife likes it. My sailboat friends that have replaced their lifelines have all gone with bare cable (without a recommendation from me). Obviously, you have alternatives. Good luck!!
http://www.mt.csjohnson.com/marinecatalog/00014.htm
Here is a link to C S Johnson regarding fabric lifelines.
Here is a link to C S Johnson regarding fabric lifelines.
Why are you replacing them? Are the cables still intact? On my Mac 25 I stripped off the old plastic and replace with new covers from West Marine. They are spit and snap over the cable.
I plan on replacing the ones on the C27 the same way. It really dresses them up. They come in 6' lengths and runs a couple of dollars each.
Here is a before and after.
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