netting, useful or not?

[fred1diver]

I'm looking at a few projects for my new to me sailboat, and I came upon lifeline netting, is it really useful or is it worthless, I do have a 13 yo son but our previous boat didn't have lifelines, this one does, just have to replace the lines, thinking about using ⅛th amsteel blue.

it will tie in nicely with the dodger and the bimini, both blue.
but I'm still on the fence about the netting.

 

[Will Gilmore]

All I got is opinion. Netting is good for pets and piece of mind with infants and toddlers. It might save a few hats and sunglasses.

I'm not a fan of the look, but it's not ugly either. I don't see it making a wit of difference with a 13 yo. I was one, standing watch in the middle of the night in the middle of the GoM and the Gulfstream, no netting. Harness and tether is the only real protection.

I'm not advising against it, just suggesting other projects might be more meaningful, like building that Windmill with your 13 yo.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[dlochner]

Netting is good if you have young children or small animals, other wise it is not all that valuable.

If you have hank on sails and are concerned about the sails slipping through the lifelines when they are doused, some ⅛" Dacron line strung between the top lifeline and the deck will keep the sail onboard.

Racers who are very weight conscious use dyneema (Amstel) however, it is has short life due to UV exposure and and chafe. Bare 3/16" 316 stainless steel wire is forever, but more expensive in the short run.

 

[SG]

I am skeptical It would dependably stop someone from falling through the lifelines. Might keep a small child or pet in board.

I think, if you do it, I’d use white vs a Sunbella-like blue.

the netting does work to keep a sail from slinging into the water. ;^)))

 

[garymalmgren]

Hi Fred.
Don't bother on the netting.
Now, what's next on your list?

Gary

 

[Joe]

Replacing the lifelines is always a good project. Dyneema is good, but 1/8 is too thin... go 3/16... but now the cost goes up, and you'll want the rope fittings... which are more expensive than the wire cable ones. Plus that blue color you love will fade pretty quick. Go with gray or white.

Netting………. forget it.. your 13 year old will be embarrassed if you tell him it' for his safety... especially when you've previously been sailing with no lifelines at all. Besides most lifelines on your size boat are not high enough to prevent someone going over. A better investment and safe solution is a harness and tether.....

If you want to keep your hanked on sails from sliding off the foredeck.... dlochner's "lifeline lashing" suggestion is a good solution. Racers that have a headsail foil will rig the lashings because there's nothing to hold the sail on deck when it comes down.... HOWEVER..... If you have a hanked on sail.... one of the very best, most valuable, yet inexpensive upgrades you can rig is a "JIB DOWNHAUL".... Not only will it keep the sail secure on deck... it will allow you to control the drop without going forward.... a huge safety advantage...

You can PM me for a detailed explanation on how to set one up. Or... search the archives..it's been discussed a number of times.

 

[jssailem]

@fred1diver you need a reason for netting. The suggestion of pets or very young children is the one I experience most often. Otherwise netting is more of a hassle.

I am unclear as to the “new to you” boat in question. Why the Hank on sail references are associated with the netting question.

Dousing sails means to pull them down and secure them. This can mean pulling them out of the water and into the cockpit or below deck rather then loose on the deck.

 

[fred1diver]

ok, so no netting, money saved. cool

 

[dLj]

On my last off-shore boat, I got rid of the life line on the top and replaced it with tubular stainless steel. this went the entire length of the top life line, bow to stern. I then put netting in the bow from the bow pulpit to about where the side stays attached to the deck. It was not whimpy netting. It was heavy duty netting with large square openings, and the junctions where knotted, not sewn. It would definitely stop a person of any size from going through that region in the bow. I was also running hank-on fore sails. So sometimes you had to be working inthe bow under tough conditions. Can't seem to get a direct link to the webbing, but here's a web page with similar products. The top left one "Knotted Nylon - Heavy Duty -3 1/2" seems to be pretty close to what I used.

Raw Netting Materials

Order custom raw nylon netting in the exact size you need. Our nylon mesh netting is completely customizeable to your desired application. Shop our custom raw netting today.

www.usnetting.com

I will definitely do this again on my next off-shore boat. Especially the top life line in solid tubular stainless steel. That is fantastic!

dj

 

[LeeandRick]

1/8" would slice through my old hands if I put half my weight on it.

 

[jssailem]

1/8" would slice through my old hands if I put half my weight on it.

Yes 1/8" lifeline is too small. I find that pulling up on the line is much better then leaning on it. Pulling up drives your feet soundly onto the deck. It is a positive action. It also requires you to be in balance rather than off balance leaning on a lifeline.

As Mikey said... Try it you'll like it.