Shortening lifelines

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Aug 21, 2006
78
- - -
I'm interested in cutting about two feet from my lifelines so that I can attach them to the low part of the bow pulpit. Right now, they are attached at the top and prevent the jib from letting out. I have already installed the pulpit anchors at the bottom of the pulpit, leaving me with two feet of slack in the linelines. Anyway, have you tried installing a hand crimp jaw toggle? I know the crimp tool is around $45 and each toggle is about $20. Is it worth putting the money into that, or just having new lifelines made? The old ones are in good shape, just a little dirty. Thanks.
 
Dec 3, 2003
544
None None Rochester, NY
I borrowed crimpers

A few years ago I added a gate to my lifelines. The hardware was purchased at West Marine and I also "bought" the large crimping tool. They had a used one for this purpose knowing that is was really a loner. I returned it for a refund when I had finished the project.
 

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
Get a quote

Get a quote first on how much it would be to have them re-swaged by someone like West MArine or a local rigging shop. Chances are it'll be as cheap as the cost of the tool plus there wont be any questions about the quality of the job. Pro shops use a tool that will give a much better/tighter fit. That equates to less of a chance it failing on you when you need it most, under pressure.
 
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
I Like Ken Palmer's Approach

WM knows what people are like. They will "sell" you the hardware and the crimpers and fully-know that you will return the crimpers for a refund. It's their way if doing business so that they won't loose the sale. What would you expect them to do? I've seen it happen here, also!
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Much less from a rigger.

I priced the materials at West Marine. We have friend that had a hydraulic press. The complete job was more expensive than having Ballenger Spars in Watsonville, CA. do the job. Johnson Marine indicated that hand swedging was NOT adequate for life lines. They also sell these tools (go figure).
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,085
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
or take the lifeline off after measuring

and bring it somewhere that has the right tools
 
Jun 16, 2005
476
- - long beach, CA
lifelines

I didn't like the way the lifelines on my OC400 interfered with the genoa, so I took them off the pulpit and led them down and forward to the toerail. I added a short piece of cable that I had WM make up and used a carabiner to attach with and the toggle to take up slack. worked well and the genoa sets perfectly
 
May 21, 2004
36
Sabre Sabre 32 Salem
try this

I did the same thing, but I attached them to the forward tubes of the pulpit making the lifelines too short, which you can easily make up with a high load line.
 
Jun 1, 2007
272
O'Day 322 Mt.Sinai
Use line instead of wire??

I thought I read somewhere that using line instead of cable for lifelines was a good idea. They would keep you onboard but, could be cut with a knife if you needed to get someone onboard in a hurry. My lifelines on my 272 are kinda stretched out, and I've been wondering if I should have them cut and re-swaged, or replace them with line. any thoughts ??
 
Jun 16, 2005
476
- - long beach, CA
lifeline

most lifeline systems have a gate in them somewhere, usually aft, at the cockpit or amidships. Line is subject to environmental degradation, and it's difficult to get line taut enough without a trucker hitch or some kind of turnbuckle.
 
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