Lifeline removal

[dawn_coyote]

Just bought a '74 and launched a couple of weeks ago. I've gotten out a couple of times since. On one of those sails, I managed to lift one of the port-side lifeline stanchions out of its base. I haven't checked, but I wouldn't be surprised to find more of them are in similar condition. I need to either anchor it (set-screw?) or remove the lifelines and stanchions altogether.

I'm tempted to remove them, both for aesthetic reasons and because I'm not convinced they're a huge (or even adequate) safety item.

Thoughts and comments?

TIA,
Dave

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Although lifelines should not be depended upon to restrain a flying sailor, I've seen them do just that on many occasions.

If your stanchions are all really that loose and you don't want to secure them properly, you'd probably be doing your passengers a favor by removing them. People tend to think its a barrier on which they can depend.

 

[allen-deckard]

bout a million threads about the benefits of leaving and removing lifelines.

I'm for leaving but there are many more for taking off. Personally has kept me from slipping off the deck more than a few times so for me it's a no brainer but I believe it comes under the category of "whatever floats ur boat"

 

[justsomeguy]

I hang towels (and other unmentionables) from them.

 

[HillbillyWanderer]

Just took mine off a couple weeks ago, love the ease at which I can get around the boat now! Might not like it if I fall over board so we will see.

 

[allen-deckard]

always makes me nervous of fallin over. Since I have autopilot and if I fell over my boat is gonna just keep right on truckin along with or without me. Stupid boat would be 1000 miles away and some search crew lookin for me there while I'm floatin around 1000 back. ugg

Anyway I put the netting around my boat and love it. Keeps the dog on board looks pretty neat and has saved at least a handful of tools from goin overboard.

Life line is knee high or a little below and admittedly basically a tripping hazard but if I was goin over I at least "imagine" that it might be something to grab ahold of as I'm goin head over heals.

Then again I can see that it opens up the deck and makes it easier to get around and may prevent goin head over heals in the first place.

So it's a toss up.

For me and the netting (that cost next to nothing) I like the looks, keeps dog on, gives me a place to hang towles, place to clip things, give me(probably false) sence of security.

So I'll be keeping mine but I wouldn't argue with anyone taking theirs off.

 

[FastOlson]

If anyone falls overboard and is injured or killed as a result, AND they or their survivors have an attorney.... removal of "safety equipment" might put you into the liability bulls eye.
Having said that, gotta admit that back in the 70's, when the bulk of the small cruisers like the C-22 were built, lifelines were often a (popular) Option and not standard equipment.

We sailed a competing small boat for many years and added 'em. While you tend to be crouching or even on knees at times going forward on a bouncy day, they are wonderful to brace a hand against. As to being a "tripping hazard" for folks standing up, yup they are indeed.

All in all, we liked having them. Only other down side is that the aft stanchions can sometimes cause sheeting hassles for leads to winches. Everything's a Compromise, as a sailing friend used to say.

Check the bases/fastenings for strength and keep the wires in good condition.

Sail a Lot, and be Safe!


Loren
(Five great years cruising and OD racing in a Ranger 20, and often sharing starts with the Catalina 22 fleet and sometimes the Cal 20 fleet as well. Happy Days indeed! )

 

[kito]

I will be sailing my C22 on Lake Norman this year and really don't feel a need for them. If I wasn't going to sell her next year I would probably take the lifelines, stanchions and even the stern rail off. Climbing over that stern rail has caused more falls than it's worth. The lifelines, especially on a trailer, are at the right height to trip over and go head first into the ground. Also, I am always telling people not to tie off on the middle stanchions when docking. They are nice to hang towels on or lean on when you dangle your legs overboard though.

 

[dawn_coyote]

If I keep them, I need to re-attach the posts to the bases. Haven't had a chance to look to see what does that. Set screws? Pins?

 

[Stu Jackson]

... C22 on Lake Norman... Also, I am always telling people not to tie off on the middle stanchions when docking.

You can install midships cleats right on the deck edges. I agree, tying off to stanchions is NOT a good idea. It's not nice to the stanchions or to the skipper who has to rebed them when they leak!

 

[Gene Neill]

When I briefly owned a '79 C22, I could not remove the lifelines fast enough. I absolutely hated them. With the boat on a trailer, it was (in my opinion) shockingly dangerous having those ridiculous "deathlines" (as I named them) constantly trying to trip me up and send me falling ass over teakettle to my death on the driveway below. I was MUCH more likely to be killed by them in my driveway than saved by them on the water, of that I will always be convinced.

On my '88, the stanchions have been moved further outboard, as well as angled outward, creating a LOT more room to move from cockpit to foredeck and back. They no longer get in the way at all, and they have a stronger design to boot. So, on this boat, I like them a lot and would never take them off.

FWIW, I would keep the bow and stern pulpits regardless.

 

[thinwater]

Please explain. How do you trip over something on the edge of the deck unless you are stepping outside the deck? And what's with walking tall on a 22-foot boat?

To me, the bow seems creapy without them, unless you sail very small waters.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Please explain. How do you trip over something on the edge of the deck unless you are stepping outside the deck? And what's with walking tall on a 22-foot boat?

To me, the bow seems creapy without them, unless you sail very small waters.

It was tough enough moving forward around the shrouds without them on my '77 C22, I wouldn't have wanted to worry about being tripped forward and out by a stanchion base on the way by (that's how).

I sail very large waters and never felt uncomfortable on the bow without them, even while sailing during SCAs. The molded toe rail is your friend. :-D

 

[Gene Neill]

Please explain. How do you trip over something on the edge of the deck unless you are stepping outside the deck? And what's with walking tall on a 22-foot boat?

To me, the bow seems creapy without them, unless you sail very small waters.

Your question answers itself: because the deck at midships is very narrow, and the stanchions are right there on the edge of it, inside the toe rail, taking up a substantial percentage of what ain't much to start with. I don't know how anyone could NOT trip on them at least occasionally, short of a trained acrobat, or a ballerina perhaps.

Who knows, maybe I'm just clumsy. And, my feet are in fact a 4E width.

 

[allen-deckard]

Never tripped on them and honestly have heard over and over how much of a tripping hazard they are but have yet to figure out how but oh well.

If ya like them keep them. If you don't then don't.

With that said if your ever gonna plan on selling the boat I wouldn't loose them since I wouldn't have bought my boat if they weren't there so your gonna loose 50% of your buyer base if you do remove them and no amount of telling me the buyer that it was ok would have changed my mind.

 

[Q22]

I like mine they help me if I lose my balance I kinda crouch and gives me something to hang on too. Has any one put Dymena or something around the rail and liked it.If you could get it tight enough it would be cleaner and more friendly.

 

[FastOlson]

I like mine they help me if I lose my balance I kinda crouch and gives me something to hang on too. Has any one put Dymena or something around the rail and liked it.If you could get it tight enough it would be cleaner and more friendly.

Lots of boats use it instead of SS.
Here's just one link-
http://www.colligomarine.com/docs/respecttherope/RTRDyn1.pdf
There are discussions on this site and others.

Loren

 

[allen-deckard]

never heard of it so I had to do a bit of research.

Looks like they are using it for the standing rigging as well. It looks interesting.

Any idea what it would cost? Kind of looks expensive but that could be deceiving.

 

[mark_swart]

This thread is interesting...my boat does not have them, and it's the first boat I've ever owned that didn't have them. I was actually thinking about adding lifelines...