Reconfiguring Lifelines

[Bob]

We have to use a tender service to get to our boat as we are on a mooring. We have a 320 and currently the lifelines are configured so that the only ones on the starboard side that you can unhook are way back on the stern which really doesn't help.Has anyone reconfigured them to unhook on the long expanse that goes from about the middle of the cockpit to the end of the galley? Is this too long for removable lines?It would make getting on and off alot easier for some people (the old and short). We've had a few close calls in rough weather getting off and I think this would solve my problem.Is it easy/hard,etc.S/V Never Say Never

 

[Steve Dion]

We did our H'31.

Bob:We reversed our lifelines several years ago. The primary purpose was that on our boat the lifelines would drop to the deck when we released them. This was very dangerous when you are comming into to the dock and someone needed to jump off in a hurry to fend off if there was a stiff wind or such. Our life lines now stay taunt from the last stantion forward to the bow pulpit. This also allows us better access when we are boarding on a short dock. In your case you may be able to have two gates, maybe one mid-ship and one aft or just eliminate the aft gate completely. You should be able to salvage most of the lifeline cable to do this and you just need to purchase a couple of pieces of hardware.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Try this

Certainly it's easy to reverse the lines. Just take them apart and switch ends. In your case, just do it on the one side where you want to board and leave the other side as is.