I need to replace both lifelines on each side of my 1987 31' sloop due to wear. Rather than replacing 8 turnbuckles, 4 pelican hooks and 4 gate hinges in addition to the cable, is there a way to swage a connector at the end of each fitting and only replace the cable or am I just looking for the cheap way out?
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Andy Howard
Lifeline Studs
Yes, you can buy just the studs, either machine or hand swage, and retain your existing pelican hooks and turnbuckles. The gate hinges will probabaly have to be replaced. I found everything I needed at Defender Industries.
Yes, you can buy just the studs, either machine or hand swage, and retain your existing pelican hooks and turnbuckles. The gate hinges will probabaly have to be replaced. I found everything I needed at Defender Industries.
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Andy Howard
Lifeline Studs
Yes, you can buy just the studs, either machine or hand swage, and retain your existing pelican hooks and turnbuckles. The gate hinges will probabaly have to be replaced. I found everything I needed at Defender Industries.
Yes, you can buy just the studs, either machine or hand swage, and retain your existing pelican hooks and turnbuckles. The gate hinges will probabaly have to be replaced. I found everything I needed at Defender Industries.
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Robert Polk
Real Cheap Approach
You can get life line covers which are tubular and snap over existing lines. They look fine and are cheap. Available at West Marine, Boat US etc.
You can get life line covers which are tubular and snap over existing lines. They look fine and are cheap. Available at West Marine, Boat US etc.
Safety advise.
Richard: If you are looking to save a lot of money on this project, then you should look at Robert's advise. Just cover them up with the plastic covers that are used on the shrouds to protect your sails and hands. One thing that we decided many years ago was the fact that the life lines on the side deck should NEVER be dropped. When Hunter originally built the boats the attached the pelican hook to the stern pulpit. When you open the gate the life lines are hanging loose all the way to the bow pulpit. We had several times when someone jumped onto the dock and had life lines around their ankles. To resolve this problem we reversed the gate. We now have the life lines running from the bow pulpit to the LAST stantion which has an eye. We then have the boarding gate going from the stern pulpit (forward) to the last stantion (with the eye) and we attach the pelican hook to the eye. 0= old attachment on stern pulpit P= Pelican hook E= New eye -------0----------------- P E----------------- With this arrangement the forward life lines are alway taunt, even when the boarding gate is open. If you do it this way you only end up with two additional studs, and eye and two additional swedges per life line (4 total).
Richard: If you are looking to save a lot of money on this project, then you should look at Robert's advise. Just cover them up with the plastic covers that are used on the shrouds to protect your sails and hands. One thing that we decided many years ago was the fact that the life lines on the side deck should NEVER be dropped. When Hunter originally built the boats the attached the pelican hook to the stern pulpit. When you open the gate the life lines are hanging loose all the way to the bow pulpit. We had several times when someone jumped onto the dock and had life lines around their ankles. To resolve this problem we reversed the gate. We now have the life lines running from the bow pulpit to the LAST stantion which has an eye. We then have the boarding gate going from the stern pulpit (forward) to the last stantion (with the eye) and we attach the pelican hook to the eye. 0= old attachment on stern pulpit P= Pelican hook E= New eye -------0----------------- P E----------------- With this arrangement the forward life lines are alway taunt, even when the boarding gate is open. If you do it this way you only end up with two additional studs, and eye and two additional swedges per life line (4 total).
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Tim Schaaf
Question for Steve
Steve, did you have to reinforce the aft stanchion, the one where the pelican hook is? When the tension of the pelican hook and the gate are released, isn't there a considerable pull forward on that stanchion? Might that not cause a leak? I seem to remember that you have a 34, which has the outward turning hull deck joint, so maybe the stanchions can't leak into the interior.
Steve, did you have to reinforce the aft stanchion, the one where the pelican hook is? When the tension of the pelican hook and the gate are released, isn't there a considerable pull forward on that stanchion? Might that not cause a leak? I seem to remember that you have a 34, which has the outward turning hull deck joint, so maybe the stanchions can't leak into the interior.
Tim, that is almost true!
Tim: We have a H'31 not the H'34. They have the same setup for the stanchion mounts. They are basically screwed into the toe rail which IS an outward turned flange. If I had a Cherubini with a thru deck mounting I would have probably considered a brace or gate stanchion. My life lines are not very tight so it is not really putting much stress on that stanchion anyway.
Tim: We have a H'31 not the H'34. They have the same setup for the stanchion mounts. They are basically screwed into the toe rail which IS an outward turned flange. If I had a Cherubini with a thru deck mounting I would have probably considered a brace or gate stanchion. My life lines are not very tight so it is not really putting much stress on that stanchion anyway.
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Tim Leighton
CHEAP DOES NOT MEAN SAFE
Interesting discussion on lifelines. However, I STRONGLY disagree with the suggestion that covering up the old lines is a good way to go. You are asking for trouble. Not only will the coverings hide any potential problems (meat hooks, corrosion, etc.), but actually accelerate corrosion by potentially trapping moisture. Last year I replaced all my (15 year old H31) lifelines using West Marine's service. Very satisfied with the result and whole thing cost right around $300. For an extra $30 I had a local SS welding shop put a brace on the aft lifeline stancion and then added gates on both uppper and lower lines to ease boarding. BTW, I don't disagree with Steve Dion on this one, we just used different solutions. If/when going offshore, I tape the gates shut to ensure they don't open at an inopportune time. Bottom line is that lifelines are there to keep you WITHIN THE PERIMITER OF THE BOAT. Please don't skimp and take a chance of becomming fish food! OK, I'm off my soapbox! Lets go sailing! Tim (S/V "TIDE") (Safety conscious on the Ches Bay)
Interesting discussion on lifelines. However, I STRONGLY disagree with the suggestion that covering up the old lines is a good way to go. You are asking for trouble. Not only will the coverings hide any potential problems (meat hooks, corrosion, etc.), but actually accelerate corrosion by potentially trapping moisture. Last year I replaced all my (15 year old H31) lifelines using West Marine's service. Very satisfied with the result and whole thing cost right around $300. For an extra $30 I had a local SS welding shop put a brace on the aft lifeline stancion and then added gates on both uppper and lower lines to ease boarding. BTW, I don't disagree with Steve Dion on this one, we just used different solutions. If/when going offshore, I tape the gates shut to ensure they don't open at an inopportune time. Bottom line is that lifelines are there to keep you WITHIN THE PERIMITER OF THE BOAT. Please don't skimp and take a chance of becomming fish food! OK, I'm off my soapbox! Lets go sailing! Tim (S/V "TIDE") (Safety conscious on the Ches Bay)
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David
LIFE lines
Tim is right! Covering old lifelines is like not replacing Firestone Wilderness AT tires.
Tim is right! Covering old lifelines is like not replacing Firestone Wilderness AT tires.
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John
H31 lifeline design flaw
Just to add my concerns to the lifeline issue on H31's, I have recently replaced all my lifelines and stantions because: 1) the design of the old lifeline bolted onto the rail and is candilevered out further results in brushing against pilings and docks when docking; this puts tension on the rail to deck joint, cracking fiberglas and eventually bending the rail and stantion 2) in heavy seas, if you put weight against them in an emergency as my wife did last year when she lost her balance, they flex, adding to their inefficiency. Bla Bla Bla, I could go on and on, bottom line is they are cheap. I purchased Matella stantions, although 85 buck apiece, and work to install (drilling holes in the deck, epoxying them, and cutting out access holes in the liners inside), now they can hold more than four times the old weight in an emergency, don't flex and open the deck and look much better. New lifelines were about 400 with the hardware, (but the wire is twice the diameter and stronger) and I, my wife, guests, and my grandson are safer. Its an important upgrade and I think a necessary one. By the way, I love my H31 and think it is an outstanding boat for the money - like other production builders, somethings got minimized for the bottom line.
Just to add my concerns to the lifeline issue on H31's, I have recently replaced all my lifelines and stantions because: 1) the design of the old lifeline bolted onto the rail and is candilevered out further results in brushing against pilings and docks when docking; this puts tension on the rail to deck joint, cracking fiberglas and eventually bending the rail and stantion 2) in heavy seas, if you put weight against them in an emergency as my wife did last year when she lost her balance, they flex, adding to their inefficiency. Bla Bla Bla, I could go on and on, bottom line is they are cheap. I purchased Matella stantions, although 85 buck apiece, and work to install (drilling holes in the deck, epoxying them, and cutting out access holes in the liners inside), now they can hold more than four times the old weight in an emergency, don't flex and open the deck and look much better. New lifelines were about 400 with the hardware, (but the wire is twice the diameter and stronger) and I, my wife, guests, and my grandson are safer. Its an important upgrade and I think a necessary one. By the way, I love my H31 and think it is an outstanding boat for the money - like other production builders, somethings got minimized for the bottom line.
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