Not standard
I don't think lifelines were standard on the 23 back in '73. The early '70's 23's I have seen that had life lines had a bow pulpit and two stanchions per side. The lifelines attached to the pulpit down low on either side (via a welded eye), ran through the two stancions and then was secured to a pad eye on the deck about halfway down the cockpit. I don't know if Oday even offered a stern rail as an option back then; I have never seen one on a 23 that old. If you have one, maybe the lifelines attach there instead of to a deck pad-eye. If there is a welded eye on the rail, that's where the lifeline goes. Attaching life lines is very easy; you will need to completely unscrew the turnbuckle from the line in order to fit the line through the holes in the stanchions, but fastening the lines at either end is a piece of cake. Since you are buying new lines and hardware, I would recommmend going with quick release fittings at the stern. This will make it easier to remove the lines to board your boat (both at the dock and while at anchor). Well worth the extra few bucks.
