Lifeline netting, who's got it, do you like it?

sailingdog · Jun 25, 2009

While lifeline netting may help, I think you're far better off using tethers that attach to a harness and clip to the back of the child's body, at least until they're old enough to understand what the tether is for. Keeping them on the boat is a requirement IMHO. PFDs are nice and all, but if you're out sailing, and the kid falls overboard, and you don't realize it for a few minutes... how difficult do you think it will be to find them, and how quickly do you think someone that size will succumb to hypothermia.

g1gaumond · Jun 25, 2009

my 2 cents...

Capt. Jon,

Considered installing netting when our daughter was born. Then opted for the long term benefits of teaching her "safe" boat manners.

At all time (at dock, at anchor etc.) in cockpit and deck a PFD had to be worn, when on deck under way a harness was added. Never went forward while underway without adult supervision.

When she was a toddler I had her car seat "anchored" in the cockpit (also had a secondary anchoring system down below for tougher weather and sailing conditions), when carrying out manoeuvers she was instructed to buckle up in car seat. It worked great. Would also sleep several hours in her seat while we sailed.

She has seen me wear a PDF on a constant basis whenever we left the dock (Still to this day I never leave the dock without one). I know I did not need to wear one all the time but it was the sacrifice I made to ensure that she could never argue with me about wearing hers.

Now she is 14 years old, she is like a ballarina on the boat, still wears her PDF and ensure that any of her guess will do the same. I often hear her tell her guess..."one hand for you and one for the boat", I guess hearing so often from me, really made it sink in.

Good habits die hard.

Ghislain
Emilie-Jolie
C30 TRBS 4708

Ross · Jun 25, 2009

My parents, and I following in their footsteps were careful to teach the children about the things in the world that could hurt them and how to avoid being hurt. This involved everything since we lived in a very rural farm setting. The three points of contact when climbing will prevent falls. (three points of contact: two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand). I was working on my boat on the hard when my three year old grand daughter climbed the ten foot ladder and stepped onto the boat and greeted me. I asked if I needed to tell her to be careful and she said "No." so I told her to not forget where she was. Don't move backwards when you are above the ground. Turn around. Make certain that there are handhold points within reach everywhere.
I took my kids walking in the woods and taught them how to look for danger and avoid it. They had friends whose parents had no woods craft and the kids weren't permitted to go into the woods. They were allowed to walk and play on and near the streets but the woods were too dangerous.
My son was about four when he climbed a gum tree to about thirty feet and told me he couldn't get down. I told him how to climb back down by finding handholds and footholds one at a time. Kids are very much aware of self preservation they just need to be taught how.
My daughter-in-law wouldn't light candles when her kids were little. But I taught the kids about candles and candle flames and they understood that getting too close to the flame was where the danger was. I taught them about sharp objects and cuts. Every kid cuts a finger now and then so they know about that so you can allow them to gently touch and feel the edge and point of sharp knives ,broken glass, thorns. By learning these things they learn where in the world danger is lurking.
People that have been in harms way teach others the things they know. Kids are just little people and deserve to be taught constantly.
Jon, The others may also like clam chowder so here it comes.
Slice a quarter pound of bacon into half inch long pieces and fry it crisp. Save the fat. Chop an onion and cook until translucent, dice one small potato for each serving. add a the potatoes and a half cup water for each to the bacon fat and cook until tender add chopped clams and a half cup of cut corn heat until boiling add one cup of whole milk(none of that low fat stuff) for each serving. turn off the fire. Salt and black pepper to taste. Serve garnish with the bacon if you haven't nibbled it all. Chunk bacon in small dice is better but hard to find.
I don't make crab soup. Fish, shrimp and scallops may be added to the chowder.
I also brine turkey breast for cold sandwich meat if any one wants that for eating on the forth. It takes a week to prepare.

Ross · Jun 25, 2009

In the news about two or three years ago there was a piece about a little girl in New Mexico that hobo'd a ride on the back of her dad's suburban when he was driving the older kids to school. She was spotted hanging on on the interstate. they got dad stopped and all was well. When they asked the little girl how she held on to the back of the truck she said "TIGHT". Next they asked if she was afraid back there all alone . she said she wasn't alone. Who was with you? she said, "Angels."

kloudie1 · Jun 25, 2009

Kids were "waterproofed" about the time they learned to walk.. We have a pool and they were very comfortable in the water.. then on the 23 foot boat I had, the lifeline netting ran from the bow pulpit back to the stern pulpit. The boat had a hanked on foresail, so the netting helped sail handling a lot, and saved several hats and other personal items.... Kids were allowed out of the cockpit only with a PFD. Once they older and learned how to hang on (ages 10 and 13), aboard the 34, with no netting, they were afforded the same non-pfd priviledges in decent weather as an adult.... and the same harness and pfd rules in messy weather. The water here is pretty warm and the consequences of someone going overboard, especially someone who is very comfortable in the water, is not so bad.. Like my father and Ross, I believe in showing kids how to think through and deal with situations rather than prohibiting exposure.

John · Jun 25, 2009

See what happens

Ross said:
My parents, and I following in their footsteps were careful to teach the children about the things in the world that could hurt them and how to avoid being hurt. This involved everything since we lived in a very rural farm setting. The three points of contact when climbing will prevent falls. (three points of contact: two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand). I was working on my boat on the hard when my three year old grand daughter climbed the ten foot ladder and stepped onto the boat and greeted me. I asked if I needed to tell her to be careful and she said "No." so I told her to not forget where she was. Don't move backwards when you are above the ground. Turn around. Make certain that there are handhold points within reach everywhere.
I took my kids walking in the woods and taught them how to look for danger and avoid it. They had friends whose parents had no woods craft and the kids weren't permitted to go into the woods. They were allowed to walk and play on and near the streets but the woods were too dangerous.
My son was about four when he climbed a gum tree to about thirty feet and told me he couldn't get down. I told him how to climb back down by finding handholds and footholds one at a time. Kids are very much aware of self preservation they just need to be taught how.
My daughter-in-law wouldn't light candles when her kids were little. But I taught the kids about candles and candle flames and they understood that getting too close to the flame was where the danger was. I taught them about sharp objects and cuts. Every kid cuts a finger now and then so they know about that so you can allow them to gently touch and feel the edge and point of sharp knives ,broken glass, thorns. By learning these things they learn where in the world danger is lurking.
People that have been in harms way teach others the things they know. Kids are just little people and deserve to be taught constantly.
quote]

Ross, I forwarded your explanation to my son and daughter-in-law who are more of the school of "keep them sheltered from anything that might possibly be a danger." As one of the family, they don't take my opinions into account too much. I'll be interested to see how they respond to what you wrote.

Stu Jackson · Jun 25, 2009

"...more of the school of "keep them sheltered from anything that might possibly be a danger."

Oh, boy. Can't wait til they go to school and have to deal with crossing the street!

Seriously, you're right, there are two schools of thought, that one and the teaching one.

The teaching approach saves a lotta wasted $$ on lifeline netting.

And if you keep your jib sheets tight and use a downhaul you won't need netting to keep your jib on the foredeck either.

TucsonTony · Jun 25, 2009

Ross said:
In the news about two or three years ago there was a piece about a little girl in New Mexico that hobo'd a ride on the back of her dad's suburban when he was driving the older kids to school. She was spotted hanging on on the interstate. they got dad stopped and all was well. When they asked the little girl how she held on to the back of the truck she said "TIGHT". Next they asked if she was afraid back there all alone . she said she wasn't alone. Who was with you? she said, "Angels."

I LOVE this story. I have tears in my eyes after reading this ...

Royal Flush · Jun 25, 2009

Life line netting

One feature you've got to consider is a "Gate". Currently, we have them run continuous and step / climb overthem to board and exit. This gets awkward at high tides. I used something akin to parachute chord to wrap them to the lifelines and posts. I'm wanting to wrap the end terminating at the stern around a pole that I can drop when boarding with the Family and large dog.

-Mac

zeehag · Jun 25, 2009

i donot rely on netting--i leash my kat and he is able to not drown when falling overboard----we just pick him up using the leash--is affixed to a harness.....

Ross · Jun 25, 2009

Cats swim better than I and I doubt that they ever fall overboard.

Hermit Scott · Jun 25, 2009

I have to put netting all the way around. My little schnauzzer is like our son, a clumsy son that always looks like he is about to fall through the lifelines.
Does anyone know where to get it cheap? I'd like polyester but all I keep seeing cheap at all is nylon.

Ross · Jun 25, 2009

try these folk.
http://www.sterlingnets.com/twine.html

catsailor · Jun 25, 2009

Exactly!

sailingdog said:
While lifeline netting may help, I think you're far better off using tethers that attach to a harness and clip to the back of the child's body, at least until they're old enough to understand what the tether is for. Keeping them on the boat is a requirement IMHO. PFDs are nice and all, but if you're out sailing, and the kid falls overboard, and you don't realize it for a few minutes... how difficult do you think it will be to find them, and how quickly do you think someone that size will succumb to hypothermia.

My daughter was brought up on car seats and sailing harnesses.

Picture sailing along the coast, on autopilot, reading a book; "where's Jane?"
"I don't know, I thought she was with you!"
It's been 20 minutes.

Life jackets are for optimists, group sailors, and small lake sailors.

Ross · Jun 25, 2009

catsailor said:
My daughter was brought up on car seats and sailing harnesses.

Picture sailing along the coast, on autopilot, reading a book; "where's Jane?"
"I don't know, I thought she was with you!"
It's been 20 minutes.

Life jackets are for optimists, group sailors, and small lake sailors.

That is absurd! if you have kids it don't work like that!

Hermit Scott · Jun 25, 2009

$2.09 a foot. That is the best I have seen so far.

Ron20324 · Jun 25, 2009

Make your own?

Hermit Scott said:
$2.09 a foot. That is the best I have seen so far.

In some knot books they show you how to make your own- and you could use whatever line you want.

higgs · Jun 25, 2009

The cost of netting is irrelevant. The first time your kid, not paying attention, is kept on board because of the netting.....you get the point. Obviously, get the best price you can, but do not let that stop you from installing it.

Nothing protects your child 100% - even staying at home and keeping them tethered to a stake in the back yard. Life is dangerous. Are your precautions for your kids or for you?

John · Jun 26, 2009

where I got mine

Hermit Scott said:
I have to put netting all the way around. My little schnauzzer is like our son, a clumsy son that always looks like he is about to fall through the lifelines.
Does anyone know where to get it cheap? I'd like polyester but all I keep seeing cheap at all is nylon.

I got my lifeline netting here: http://www.seamar.com/nets/rail.html

Excellent price, good service.

Lifeline netting, who's got it, do you like it?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.