Lifeline replacement

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

For a 17' boat, shipping life lines shouldn't be expensive. My recent order shipped for $23 and included 2 sets of lifelines, with about 200 ft of wire.

where are you?

shipping wire from Fairhaven to the USVI involves two different shippers, takes about two weeks and costs about $100 when all is said and done. no to mention the time clearing it through customs.

 

[Dhamil6490]

I have not spliced dynema. I have spliced nylon and did it using a phillips headed screw driver. But I was making dock lines and not life lines. On a Coronado 23 that I fixed up, I did go to lowes and buy some tygon tubing to recover my existing life lines. The original plastic had cracked. So I pulled it all off and the underlying ss wire was still in good shape. So I covered it. I went with bright orange so it was easier to see.

View attachment 171071

Great idea. I hadn't considered that.

 

[dlochner]

where are you?

shipping wire from Fairhaven to the USVI involves two different shippers, takes about two weeks and costs about $100 when all is said and done. no to mention the time clearing it through customs.

I'm in Central NY, takes 3 days via UPS to ship here. A large flat rate box from Syracuse to USVI via USPS is $19.95. Most of the lifeline would fit in one box, 2 at tops. Takes 3 days to get to USVI.

Even a 20 lb large box (not flat rate) is $60.10 Priority Mail (3 days) or $54 retail ground rate (about 10 days).

The OP lists his address as Ohio.

 

[Dhamil6490]

I have not spliced dynema. I have spliced nylon and did it using a phillips headed screw driver. But I was making dock lines and not life lines. On a Coronado 23 that I fixed up, I did go to lowes and buy some tygon tubing to recover my existing life lines. The original plastic had cracked. So I pulled it all off and the underlying ss wire was still in good shape. So I covered it. I went with bright orange so it was easier to see.

View attachment 171071

what material did you use to cover the wire?

 

[jssailem]

Don't know a thing about splicing.

It is a great skill to learn. Dyneema splicing is relatively easy to learn.

 

[jssailem]

Most wire life lines now a days are left bare. That way there is less chance they will rust out on you.

No rust with dyneema lines.

 

[dlochner]

Most wire life lines now a days are left bare. That way there is less chance they will rust out on you.

No rust with dyneema lines.

Crevice corrosion is an issue with covered lifelines and the cover hides the corrosion from view. Its a bigger problem in saltwater, but happens in freshwater too. ISAF does not allow covered lifelines in offshore races.

 

[Dhamil6490]

It is a great skill to learn. Dyneema splicing is relatively easy to learn.

where can I learn this skill? what tools do I need?

 

[jssailem]

You tube has a number of hand on videos.
You need a marking pen and something to pull the line through the center of the line.

Folk have used bic pens, plastic or steel fids, stiff wire, etc.
You can buy the real thing or fashion something you have in the garage to do the splice.

Here are a couple of Youtube Vid....

Or an example by a rope company step - by - step.

Activity - Work - Utility-Industrial - SterlingRope.com

Activity - Work - Utility-Industrial - SterlingRope.com

atlanticbraids.com

 

[Dhamil6490]

Thanks for the information. Big help.