lifelines

[jamesstrobel]

Is there a source for ready-made lifelines for a 1990 Hunter 23? Mine have multiple cracks in the outer plastic sleeve and there is rust showing from the wire at those separations. I sail in Lake Erie.

thanks

 

[bobtigar]

riggingonly.com will make up any size you need. Pretty reasonable. Bob

 

[Tim R.]

A local rigger is your best bet. They will measure and make sure they are right.

 

[caguy]

I recovered mine with a spit plastic tubing from WM. I stripped off the old stuff with a pocket knife to make sure that the wires were all in tact. The covers slip on pretty tight and my finger cramped by the time I was done, but they look brand new now. The tubing cost about $2/6' length.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Pros & cons to vinyl coated life lines ...

I have heard that many organizations will not allow boats to enter races if their life lines are coated with vinyl. This is a safety issue as it encourages crevice corrosion and hides the problem until a dangerous failure may occur. I like the looks of my white coated life lines, and I am wondering how many prefer the bare wires over the coated wires. I have noted that my jib sheets can actually wear the vinyl if there is enough friction against the life lines when I let the sails out and the sheets are set up for close hauling (inside the life lines).

 

[BobM]

But his are rusty...

I recovered mine with a spit plastic tubing from WM. I stripped off the old stuff with a pocket knife to make sure that the wires were all in tact. The covers slip on pretty tight and my finger cramped by the time I was done, but they look brand new now. The tubing cost about $2/6' length.

...so if he recovers them they will look beatiful, but he won't have much time to admire them prior to his imminent swim

 

[caguy]

That is why I suggest that he strip off the old coating and inspect the wires first. </p>Mine looked rusty at the cracks in the old brown and yellow covering also until I stripped them off. The wires on mine were fine.

 

[bffatcat]

New Life lines

Just replace the life lines with new ones available at Rigging only or west marine You can bring the old one in to west marine they will measure them and replace them
with new ones covered with vinyl.

 

[pjaudon]

Life Lines

Just replace the life lines with new ones available at Rigging only or west marine You can bring the old one in to west marine they will measure them and replace them
with new ones covered with vinyl.

Any idea what WM charges?

 

[Ron20324]

I know you said ready-made, but for a 23, I say buy the crimping tool, move up to 3/16 uncoated wire, and make your own.

 

[zeehag]

i use spectra line when i replace mine

 

[dserrell]

1

 

[Prime Time]

Price them out

I did this a few yrs ago. The cheapest was SECO South. http://www.secosouth.com/
They are a huge manufacturer mostly do wholesale but will also do retail. Send them yours and they will duplicate. Very low price as compared to WM when I priced it out. Much lower than my local riggers.

 

[Geoff K]

Why only one mention of non-steel life lines? ANY SS wire coated will corrode and, because of the cover, you will not see it. Synthetic rope lines look nicer, are more comfortable to hang on to, have a sympathetic stretch when you fall against them, are stronger than steel for same size, and are easy to splice. I used Endura 12 Single Braid - 1/4" on a Pearson 323.

Geoff

 

[sailingdog]

If you're going to go with Stainless Steel, don't go for coated wire... it will just rust faster and be much more difficult to inspect than bare stainless wire. Riggingonly.com is a good source, and one of my local vendors. Going with an Amsteel or Dyneema line requires that you check the stanchions very carefully for any burrs or sharp edges, which will chafe through the non-steel lifelines rather quickly.

Suncor makes a "lifeline kit" that comes with all the necessary fittings and is a fairly good deal.

 

[Roger Long]

If you're going to go with Stainless Steel, don't go for coated wire... it will just rust faster and be much more difficult to inspect than bare stainless wire.

I'll second that. It's what I did and I've found that the bare metal feels much better to the hands than the plastic. It looks great, and you don't need to worry about something gouging or ripping the plastic which will look bad until it's replaced. Stays cleaner.... I could go on and on.

 

[Jumpstart]

Synthetic lifelines

For all of those recommending synthetic lifelines be aware they are not legal per USSA and ISAF rules for racing. Problem with synthetics is they are susceptible to chafe and also their strength can be affected by UV degradation. Uncoated stainless is recommended.

 

[zeehag]

For all of those recommending synthetic lifelines be aware they are not legal per USSA and ISAF rules for racing. Problem with synthetics is they are susceptible to chafe and also their strength can be affected by UV degradation. Uncoated stainless is recommended.

is alll goood--i donot race under any conditions--is very very bad for the boat---twist-o-flexes it to the max--i am a cruiser, not a racer---gentlemen never sail to weather lol......therefore, my rope lifelines are perfect--do not cut the body and do not look like ****-----they even color co ordinate4 with the canvas..LOL......

 

[Warren Milberg]

Good article by Don Casey in the current (Nov/Dec '09) edition of "Good Old Boat" magazine. He recommends 1x19 Type 316 SS uncoated wire and machine swaged or swageless terminals. Last time I replaced lifelines on a previous boat, I bought the wire swageles end fittings from Defender. This is a relatively easy and satifying DIY project that most boat owners can do for themselves at about half the cost most rigging shops or West will charge.

On interest in Casey's article is his belief that SS wire should last 2 or more decades while synthetic line may last around 5 years.

 

[Guest]

Life lines

Hi James, I replaced the life lines on our H28 myself. A local chandlery supplied the plastic coated SS wire and crimp fittings. They let me use their crimping tool because of liability. I took the old ones down to make sure of the correct length for each section. The threaded crimp fittings are different for each side of the boat, at least on ours it was; left versus right hand threads.

Terry Cox