I have a Hunter 31, 1986, with a broken lifeline. It is the lower, fed through a hole in the stanchion, but it looks very much like the outer plastic coating that protects the wire was molded on after it was installed. When I removed the line from one stanchion, only exposed wire ran through the hole. I thought I could just pull the line through but it looks like it has to be cut at each stanchion. Once the line is removed, the holes are too small to rethread lifeline of the same gauge. Has anyone else encountered this?
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lifeline
You'll have to cut the line and re-drill the hole in the stanchion. I had to do that after a particularly bad winter. Water gets into the stanchion, freezes, and pushes the plastic bushing in the hole up the stanchion, effectively destroying the line.
You'll have to cut the line and re-drill the hole in the stanchion. I had to do that after a particularly bad winter. Water gets into the stanchion, freezes, and pushes the plastic bushing in the hole up the stanchion, effectively destroying the line.
Guessing here but. . . .
pretty certain that the lifeline was originally one coated piece of wire. Then over time the coating wears at the stanchion holes. Hard to explain how the expansion occurs so that the coated line will not pull through the holes. To test this theory I would buy a scrap piece down at your local West Marine. See if that will go through the stanchion holes. It might need a little dishwasher liquid on it. Scott's point is interesting. Never had a stanchion that retained water.
pretty certain that the lifeline was originally one coated piece of wire. Then over time the coating wears at the stanchion holes. Hard to explain how the expansion occurs so that the coated line will not pull through the holes. To test this theory I would buy a scrap piece down at your local West Marine. See if that will go through the stanchion holes. It might need a little dishwasher liquid on it. Scott's point is interesting. Never had a stanchion that retained water.
Terry...This Happened to Me!!
The same thing with water intrusion happened to me one time. To remedy the situation, drill a small (maybe 1/8") "weep hole" into the vertical base of the stanchion. Any water intrusion will weep out before it has a chance to freeze - immediate payback on the investment!
The same thing with water intrusion happened to me one time. To remedy the situation, drill a small (maybe 1/8") "weep hole" into the vertical base of the stanchion. Any water intrusion will weep out before it has a chance to freeze - immediate payback on the investment!
Me too...
On my last boat, an H28.5, there was a plastic "plug" inside the stantion and it had shifted for whatever reason (freezing water sound right) and the hole for the lifeline was reduced considerably. It also had worn the plastic lifeline cover off where it passed through. I drilled through the plastic and rethreaded the new lifeline.
On my last boat, an H28.5, there was a plastic "plug" inside the stantion and it had shifted for whatever reason (freezing water sound right) and the hole for the lifeline was reduced considerably. It also had worn the plastic lifeline cover off where it passed through. I drilled through the plastic and rethreaded the new lifeline.
Replacement Lines
If one has broken I would seriously consider replacing them all , they are called lifelines for a reason! I just replaced all mine on a 92 -H35.5 and the cost was around $450.00 from Rigging only who I highly recommend. I had one stanchion where there had been damage and the lifeline had to be cut. I removed it and put in vise and redrilled the hole - mine had damage from a racing collision so the metal was bent. If you can get them out you can send them complete to rigging only and they will duplicate. Regards Don
If one has broken I would seriously consider replacing them all , they are called lifelines for a reason! I just replaced all mine on a 92 -H35.5 and the cost was around $450.00 from Rigging only who I highly recommend. I had one stanchion where there had been damage and the lifeline had to be cut. I removed it and put in vise and redrilled the hole - mine had damage from a racing collision so the metal was bent. If you can get them out you can send them complete to rigging only and they will duplicate. Regards Don
Naked vs Covered Life Lines?
Recent trends at boat shows appear to be the increasing use of uncovered "naked" lifelines. Having contemplated this last year when replacing my lifelines I came to the conclusion that covered are best. My rational was that if a any strand gets nicked or broken it immediately becomes a meathook ready to shred an unsuspecting hand. Any one else consider naked as a lifeline option? Pro's cons?
Recent trends at boat shows appear to be the increasing use of uncovered "naked" lifelines. Having contemplated this last year when replacing my lifelines I came to the conclusion that covered are best. My rational was that if a any strand gets nicked or broken it immediately becomes a meathook ready to shred an unsuspecting hand. Any one else consider naked as a lifeline option? Pro's cons?
Uncoated wire
The boat I crew on (J-40) and the boat I live on (H40) have recently had coated lifelines removed and replaced with uncoated. Pros Problems are not hidden. Any rust/corrosion/damage can immediately be spotted and dealt with. With coated lifelines you get far fewer visual indications of problems. The stainless isn't oxygen starved by the coating. I've read that this is one of the few conditions that will cause problems for stainless. No coating to trap water and salt. It looks better. I wasn't sure about this one until it was finished. It looks awesome. Cons On both boats we have bare wire passing through stanchion holes with no pastic grommets. I was (am) concerned that the stanchion might abrade the wire over time. So far, no problem. Fortunately, it's easy to check. It's been three years of hard racing on the J (with lot's of hard hiking) and it's not been a problem. If I find issues with this I'll just have a shop lathe up some high density plastic grommets. Sometimes 1x19 can grab hair if you lean against it. It's not a big deal though and we don't hike on Anthem anyway. A comment on Ketoj's point about meathooks. My guess is that a meathook on a coated wire will do just fine at drawing blood. Anything that can break a strand of stainless won't be stopped a bit by plastic coating. Further, you'll then have a sharp edge that might be hidden by the coating. This is certainly just my humble opinion but the way I see it, there's quite a few reasons we don't use coated wire for standing rigging. Aren't lifelines just as important?
The boat I crew on (J-40) and the boat I live on (H40) have recently had coated lifelines removed and replaced with uncoated. Pros Problems are not hidden. Any rust/corrosion/damage can immediately be spotted and dealt with. With coated lifelines you get far fewer visual indications of problems. The stainless isn't oxygen starved by the coating. I've read that this is one of the few conditions that will cause problems for stainless. No coating to trap water and salt. It looks better. I wasn't sure about this one until it was finished. It looks awesome. Cons On both boats we have bare wire passing through stanchion holes with no pastic grommets. I was (am) concerned that the stanchion might abrade the wire over time. So far, no problem. Fortunately, it's easy to check. It's been three years of hard racing on the J (with lot's of hard hiking) and it's not been a problem. If I find issues with this I'll just have a shop lathe up some high density plastic grommets. Sometimes 1x19 can grab hair if you lean against it. It's not a big deal though and we don't hike on Anthem anyway. A comment on Ketoj's point about meathooks. My guess is that a meathook on a coated wire will do just fine at drawing blood. Anything that can break a strand of stainless won't be stopped a bit by plastic coating. Further, you'll then have a sharp edge that might be hidden by the coating. This is certainly just my humble opinion but the way I see it, there's quite a few reasons we don't use coated wire for standing rigging. Aren't lifelines just as important?
Lifeline response
Thanks for all the posts. While I am tempted to go bare, we spent some time the other inspecting all these stanchions and lines and they all look like they are in good shape. I am going to replace just this lower line with the coated stuff, including redrilling the stanchions so the damn things will fit, then drill small weep holes all the way around so I dont get this same thing happening on the rest of the stanchions. We'll see.
Thanks for all the posts. While I am tempted to go bare, we spent some time the other inspecting all these stanchions and lines and they all look like they are in good shape. I am going to replace just this lower line with the coated stuff, including redrilling the stanchions so the damn things will fit, then drill small weep holes all the way around so I dont get this same thing happening on the rest of the stanchions. We'll see.
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