Lifeline gate hardware - options/questions?

Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
I have decided to replace our aging/broken lifelines with 3/16 bare wire. I was adamant about using 1/8 coated but after checking out a few boats with uncoated 3/16 I changed my mind.

My question now is about hardware. There will be two gates on each side (stern and mid-ship) .
I was planning to simply use a gate stop (collar with set screw) at the stanchion opposite the gate hooks. I've seen this on many boats and it works well and reduces the overall cost by several hundred dollars.

The boats I saw with the above arrangement all used 7 X 19 coated wire. The examples of uncoated wire I saw all used 1 X 19. Will the same arrangement (gate stop collar) work with 1 X 19 or will it be too stiff to bend when I open the gate? When I looked at boats with uncoated wire I (unfortunately) didn't look at this aspect.

Adding eight "double gate eyes" increases my cost over $400.
There is also the option of using 7 X 19 uncoated wire but several people have told me it's extremely uncomfortable to the touch.

Not sure what I should do?

Chris
 
Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
Here's mine Chris. 1x19 and Johnson Marine fittings. Bought one of their crimpers . Already owned the nicropress crimper
 

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Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
1x19 is pretty stiff, I think you're right that it won't bend enough. I can't see how any different wire types of the same size would feel any different when touching or falling against it. If anything the 7x19 should feel smoother. Of course the gate eyes and 7x19 for the gates and 1x19 for the rest is better, but that is a substantial cost increase.
 
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
Here's mine Chris. 1x19 and Johnson Marine fittings. Bought one of their crimpers . Already owned the nicropress crimper
I did mine that way with the Nico fittings too. It worked and was cheap, but I find the eyes stick out too far into the gate way and I'm continually running into them, catching clothing on them, etc.
 
Dec 13, 2010
123
Hake 32RK Red Bank
The builder of my boat used those stops on my lifelines. Afgter a while they cut through the vinyl and moved enough to create slack when the pelican hook was loosened to open the gate. I took them off-had to cut them off because the set screws wouldn't budge-and put a regular swaged on gate stop on the lifeline and reused the remainder and turned the pelican around and swaged on an end fitting. Much nicer now and no slack when the gate is open and the added advantage I have somewhere to hang the gate when its open and out of the way! Worth the 100 bucks it cost.
 
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
Hate those set screws. There was quite an active thread here last week about how horrible they are. I try to change them out for regular headed screws of I can.
 
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
My issue is not on the pelican hook end. It's the other end of my mid-ship gate where the line either passes through the stanchion (with a collar to maintain tension when the gate is open - or a double gate eye). So when I unhook the gate, I can double the line back to keep it out of the way. I've seen the "collar" approach with coated 3/16 7 X 19 so I assume it would work with uncoated too. No issue with the set screw chewing up the coating but instead it probably cuts/kinks the wire strands.
I have seen copper collars that you crimp on with a nicopress tool.
I'll try to find the thread about the set screw collars that was mentioned earlier.
 

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
Here's our receipt from the job we had done in approximately 2007. As mentioned in another post about bare lifelines, we love ours and feel like it was one of the best improvements we have made to our boat. Clean, safe, sharp looking. Not cheap, but well worth the investment.
Lifeline replacement.jpg
 
May 17, 2004
5,445
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
with a collar to maintain tension when the gate is open
I haven't seen a collar like that. Are the stantions mounted in a way that they can sustain the tension of the lifelines over a prolonged period of time without deflecting or damaging their bedding? All of the installations I've ever noticed are terminated at the pulpit and pushpit, or a stantion with an angled support strut. If the stantion isn't braced, I'd be worried about what would happen to it if someone fell into a lifeline or even leaned against it.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,261
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I just finished replacement. Cost about $600. Two gates but used dyneem line and center close pelican hooks. The line gives the gates a great feel and sold closure. It is a great option.
 

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Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
Thanks everyone for the input. I have my answer after finding a few more boats with 3/16 1 x 17 uncoated lines. I need double gate eyes or an eye/jaw on the end opposite the pelican hook. It's the "proper" way and the only way that works with the stuffer wire.
My use of "gate" was probably not accurate. All I'm adding is the ability to open up the lines closer to mid-ship. This is similar to the cockpit area where I can open the lines (pelican hooks) as on most boats.
It's worth the extra $500 to us to be able to step off an uncluttered deck onto the dock. Our current slip and many we have tied to are too short to exit the boat safely from the cockpit. Stepping over lifelines or "walking the toe rail" are just accidents waiting to happen - especially with older people (as I'm becoming) and children.

Looks like it's time to open the wallet :)
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Good choice, Chris. When I bought my B323 new , it had 2 3/16 gates on both sides of the cockpit. Trouble is, I had a bow-in slip. I needed new opening gates on the bow on one side, so decided to do both side and replaced the longer lines on the beam so I could go with SS all around. I bought the $ compression tool for lifelines. That saved me a bundle, and you might consider it. At 240 pounds, I have tested their strength. The stanchions bent and the lifelines survived- and me, too. Ten years later, I still have the coated, OEM lines if anyone is interested.
 

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
Ours are exactly like yours Loren and they're great.