Replacing lifelines

Joe · Dec 2, 2012

There have been a few recent discussions on substituting Dyneema fiber rope for the wire. Very positive, and it looks good too. Another consensus, use bare wire rather than the plastic covered variety, so you might consider stripping yours before replacing to see what condition they're in.

paphman · Dec 2, 2012

We replaced ours last year from Defender, and they came out great. The fittings are first class and the cost was not crazy.

Joe · Dec 2, 2012

jfrench said:
<<use bare wire>>

I've considered stripping the yellowed and cracked vinyl covering off the wire, then snapping the white vinyl wire covers sold by West marine. But I'd really prefer to find a way to replace with new lines at a reasonable cost.

I meant use bare wire for your lifelines.... not covered wire.

Why don't you go ahead and remove the worn out covers, since you want to replace them anyway, and they look like hell, what have you got to lose? The bare wire will clean up nicely with the proper cleaner.... The only place I would consider covering the wire is where the sail rubs over it when you tack.
If the wire is in bad shape, start looking for replacements.

Second question........ what do you consider a "reasonable price"?

Sail123 · Dec 3, 2012

jfrench said:
<<use bare wire>>

I've considered stripping the yellowed and cracked vinyl covering off the wire, then snapping the white vinyl wire covers sold by West marine. But I'd really prefer to find a way to replace with new lines at a reasonable cost.

My lifelines were fine, but the glued on coverings were cracked, getting brittle from the sun, and looked awful. Solution? It cost about twenty bucks at the hardware store. Flexable ice maker cold water line. It is translucent white. The fittings just barely fit through, and the tubing just barely fit inside my stanchon holes. It looks a little more heavy duty than it used to look, but I am ok with that. Looks great!

My boat sees no blue water, no storms. If I were using my boat in all weather conditions, I would put in all new safety lines.

SailAway1 · Dec 3, 2012

Sounds like I did what paphman did. I purchased a lifeline kit, an extra QA Toggle, and an extra QA Toggle Adjuster from Defender. It was enough to replace the lifelines on both sides for about $160. The lifeline came in a single 40 ft length so I just had to cut each side to length and put everything together.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|297400|983259&id=982142
Greg

Sailor Tim · Dec 3, 2012

I recently had top replace a life line on my Beneteau. I contacted Benny who put me in touch with these people....
http://secosouth.com/

The customer service was outstanding, the whole process was so simple, much easier than trying to swag and fit my own, and the cost was less than I thought it would be.
I don't know about your boat, but they had all the information they needed on file for me.

Joe · Dec 3, 2012

jfrench said:
<<what do you consider a "reasonable price"?>>

Well, if you look at 50 feet of new line @ $2.60 / foot, then you need studs at $10 each; except those studs require machine swaging, but no one seems to offer that. So you look at swageless studs at $54 each (times 4). It doesn't take long to rack up $350 just replacing lifelines, and that's if you don't need pelican hooks or other fittings.

Well, you still haven't mentioned a price you'd consider reasonable. For any price to be "unreasonable" you'd have to have a "reasonable" comparison...... otherwise, it is what it is.

Do a little more shopping for the wire. Defender offers it for much less than your quote.
A quick call to them might enlighten you to the cost of having them crimp on the threaded studs.

If you're intent on building your own, you might check a westmarine store to see if they have a lifeline crimping tool available to borrow. I have built pendants and other similar pieces right in the store.

gpdno · Dec 4, 2012

I replaced mine with 3/16 dyneema several months ago. It was some much easier and cheaper then wire. Most of my sailing buddies are also switching out the old cable lifelines with dyneema. It's stronger, cheaper, lighter, and much easier than steel cable.

Squidd · Dec 4, 2012

I did the Dyneema

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=902643&highlight=dyneema

Squidd · Dec 5, 2012

Eventually...after four or five years..

gpdno · Dec 5, 2012

jfrench said:
Does Dyneema degrade from sunlight exposure?

From the manufacture ... Spectra® is one of the most UV resistant fibers. The loss of strength depends on the line's specific construction, but generally the sort of small diameter line used for lifelines will lose about 15% of their tensile strength (=85% of original tensile strength) after 6 months of continuous strong sun exposure (testing in Mexico and Arizona) and at 5 years will retain about 60% of its tensile strength.

But remember that it is also over 2X as strong as the same diameter wire rope. So even with UV exposure, after five years the 3/16 dyneema lines on my boat will still be stronger than NEW 3/16 wire lifelines. And because its inexpensive and easy to work with I can just replace them after 5-6 years.

jackhararis · Dec 6, 2012

Took my lifelines to West Marine. They gave me a quote, then sent my lifelines to their rigger department. They came back exactly like original, and were very reasonable in price $50-60 each. Jack

kito · Dec 6, 2012

I am thinking of removing my lifelines on my Catalina 22 altogether. Not sure what purpose they serve on such a small boat. They seem to be the perfect height to trip over and rotate enough to land head first on my concrete driveway. Lifeline?...I don't think so

Ken · Dec 7, 2012

Great for hanging my cloths on, other than that foreword of the cockpit I agree too low for anything other than a tripping hazard... jmo..

Sail123 · Dec 7, 2012

kito said:
I am thinking of removing my lifelines on my Catalina 22 altogether. Not sure what purpose they serve on such a small boat. They seem to be the perfect height to trip over and rotate enough to land head first on my concrete driveway. Lifeline?...I don't think so

Are you people nuts! Seriously bonkers!

Lifelines are not made to render aid in your driveway. These are not driveway boats, They are sailboats. Sailboats heel, and many a folk take great comfort, and fun, using them for support and safety, while heeling under sail. See no benefit to lifelines in these photographs?

I am pretty green at this, having sat out sailing 25 years, but even I can figure out the extreme level of safety these provide to everyone on a sailboat.

Leave them on!

Put them back, if removed!

Get them updated with new lines if need be!

Waterproof the stanchions if they leak!

Don't have em, get em! www.MarinePartDepot.com.

One of the most important pieces of equipment on any sailboat.

With lifelines, getting knocked out cold by a boom is bad, but staying on the boat afterwards is critical. Lifelines just may do that. Better to slump over the lifeline, than fall into the water. Without lifelines, getting knocked out cold, falling off the boat, lungs fill with water, as the crew works at turning the boat back around, locating you, getting your lifeless body out of the water and onto the boat again. One option, is a headache, or concussion, the other option without lifelines, is a great potential for a funeral!

People in this thread talk about removing lifelines, like it is nothing more than removing the expired green tree air freshener from your rear view mirror in your car.

I had single lifelines on my William Crealock CM32, and I replaced them with double lifelines from another CM32 I own, to better protect my crew.

Replacing lifelines

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