safety rails
- Thread starter fido
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Try it out first.
A few years ago I owned and sailed a 1980 Catalina 22. It came without lifelines. It did have a bow pulpit that came back about 30 inches from the bow. After sailing that boat for 4 years and sailing her very hard I came to loving the fact that those lifeline wern't there.
Lifelines on boats under 28 feet are so low that they won't keep you from falling over the side. They more often than not trip you up and then you fall over.
If you have kids or small animals then that is a totally different deal. Lifelines in those cases allow you to mount nylon webbing between the upper line and the deck.
I regularly sail with a friend on his Venture 21/ Mac 21. It has no lifelines and that is a plus as moving on the side decks is easier and cleaner, especially in the area around the shrouds.
We wear inflatable lifevest/harnesses ALL the time we are sailing. We sail 4 boats. A SJ23, V21, Omega14.2 and a Cyclone13. All without lifelines.
When my wife and I went crusing on our IP38 we did have lifelines but they were 30+ inches high and VERY stout and that was above a 5"outer side bolster. Now you are speaking close to 3 feet high. That system would keep you from falling overboard.
After trying out your boat if you do decide you need lifelines then stanchons from any boat 26 feet or less will work for the side rails. The front pulpit and rear transom corner rails will probably have to come from a V21 if you don't have them now. The lines themselves will need to be built by any rigging shop like West Marine, etc. They will tell you how to measure the lines. Don't get vinyl covered lines. One size larger SS lines will fit in their place and will be stronger.
Look on this site under "Gear for sale" very regularly and you might find the parts you want as I have seen quite a few V21's parted out.
Ray
A few years ago I owned and sailed a 1980 Catalina 22. It came without lifelines. It did have a bow pulpit that came back about 30 inches from the bow. After sailing that boat for 4 years and sailing her very hard I came to loving the fact that those lifeline wern't there.
Lifelines on boats under 28 feet are so low that they won't keep you from falling over the side. They more often than not trip you up and then you fall over.
If you have kids or small animals then that is a totally different deal. Lifelines in those cases allow you to mount nylon webbing between the upper line and the deck.
I regularly sail with a friend on his Venture 21/ Mac 21. It has no lifelines and that is a plus as moving on the side decks is easier and cleaner, especially in the area around the shrouds.
We wear inflatable lifevest/harnesses ALL the time we are sailing. We sail 4 boats. A SJ23, V21, Omega14.2 and a Cyclone13. All without lifelines.
When my wife and I went crusing on our IP38 we did have lifelines but they were 30+ inches high and VERY stout and that was above a 5"outer side bolster. Now you are speaking close to 3 feet high. That system would keep you from falling overboard.
After trying out your boat if you do decide you need lifelines then stanchons from any boat 26 feet or less will work for the side rails. The front pulpit and rear transom corner rails will probably have to come from a V21 if you don't have them now. The lines themselves will need to be built by any rigging shop like West Marine, etc. They will tell you how to measure the lines. Don't get vinyl covered lines. One size larger SS lines will fit in their place and will be stronger.
Look on this site under "Gear for sale" very regularly and you might find the parts you want as I have seen quite a few V21's parted out.
Ray
We have a bow pulpit on our 19' boat, and it's useful. We don't have a stern pulpit (pushpit?) or lifelines... and we don't miss them. In windy weather, we don't go forward unless necessary, and it's usually me. We now have hydrostatic auto-inflate PFDs, mine has the harness rings, and I have jacklines for use when necessary.
There is an outfit that advertises in the back of Sail magazine. They will build stern and bow rails to fit most any boat. I'll find the company name if you want it.
jeff
jeff
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