Shroud Protector Installation

dlochner · Jan 5, 2022

The current thinking on lifelines is to leave them bare. The vinyl coverings will hide corrosion which could cause the lifeline to fail when it is needed most. Offshore racing boats can not have vinyl coated life lines.

I'd leave them off. SS requires less maintanacne, i.e. cleaning.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jan 5, 2022

I used a plastic spatula (putty knife) with reasonable success. Anything similar should help.

As to the wisdom of installing them, that isn’t the question but since it was mentioned, periodic inspection of shrouds and lifelines is necessary regardless. And in terms of safety, white lifelines are much easier to see in the dark in case anyone needs to grab one in a hurry. A small price to pay for added security.

thinwater · Jan 5, 2022

SirMichael said:
I bought some new Davis Shroud Protector Covers for the lifelines on my boat.
The cables underneath are in great shape, but the covers have faded.

I can remove the covers OK, but installing the new ones (they have a split down the length) is a real pain.
I called Davis, but there is no installation tool and it takes a lot of finger pressure and fiddling to get them on.

Has anyone figured out a good way to install these things with some kind of a spreader tool?

View attachment 201494

Sir Michael

Warmer weather! But if you can't wait, either a hair drier or a trough of hot water (better).

Corrosion is not an issue because they allow air circulation. Tight, covers (coated wire) are the concern.

jssailem · Jan 5, 2022

I am a bare wire guy. Wire large enough to grab hold. No slippage or rotation when I grab hold.

That said, I would try to open one end to start and then slide the plastic cover along the wire using the wire to open the cover as I slide it over. The same method you use on a key ring to get a key on the ring.

I like the gentle heat method as well to make it easy to open the plastic. A concern, too much heat may damage the plastic.

Like the plastic putty knife as well. Too much risk to be pushing and pulling a metal sharp edge. I'd be going to the Emergency room for sure.

jssailem · Jan 5, 2022

Sir Michael.
I was not thinking about pulling, but pushing, feeding the plastic around the wire and letting the plastic feed down the wire as I pushed it on using the wire to provide the separation of the plastic through the opening.

Project_Mayhem · Jan 6, 2022

I use these to keep my jib from getting hung up and to keep my bimini from chafing against the stays. You can use larger shroud covers than Davis specifies. They're usually easier to install when oversized

If you have your shrouds off, you can bend the shroud while pushing the protector on it. If not, once you get the first few inches of the protector on, Bend it backwards (away from shroud) so the opening becomes a little larger. It's easier but I still wouldn't call it easy. I have not tried heating it

mermike · Jan 7, 2022

A split loom installation tool might work, if you can find one small enough.

LloydB · Jan 7, 2022

I have put similar protectors made of PVC on 3/8 down guy strand and and seem to recall that the toughest part was getting the protector started around the strand in the beginning as jssailem suggested by pushing it onto the strand rather than pulling it over it. Also had to keep in mind that once it was clamped in there was no sliding it someplace else so you had to start the end on where you wanted it to be when finished. You might try using an old flat bladed screwdriver to open the jaw apart at the beginning then slide a 3/16 nutdriver in as a spreader and slide it down the wire as you bend the cover onto it.

johncowder · Apr 24, 2023

dlochner said:
The current thinking on lifelines is to leave them bare. The vinyl coverings will hide corrosion which could cause the lifeline to fail when it is needed most. Offshore racing boats can not have vinyl coated life lines.

I'd leave them off. SS requires less maintanacne, i.e. cleaning.

I had a similar issue after trying to replace my shrouds. As an architect, I'm used to solving problems like this one...Here is how I did it...

I ran a butter knife down the plastic sleeve slit just to make sure it was cut all the way.
Using a small thin-nose plyer, I bent some thin cardboard around each nose and stapled it tight...This will protect the sleeve from the teeth of the plyers.
A little pressure from the plyers will spread the sleeve apart enough to get it over the shroud
Working it up the shroud 1/4 inch at a time, you should be able to complete the installation in about 1/2 hour.
Too bad they don't make a special tool for this... HAPPY SAILING!

Project_Mayhem · Apr 24, 2023

johncowder said:
I had a similar issue after trying to replace my shrouds. As an architect, I'm used to solving problems like this one...Here is how I did it...View attachment 214981
I ran a butter knife down the plastic sleeve slit just to make sure it was cut all the way.
Using a small thin-nose plyer, I bent some thin cardboard around each nose and stapled it tight...This will protect the sleeve from the teeth of the plyers.
A little pressure from the plyers will spread the sleeve apart enough to get it over the shroud
Working it up the shroud 1/4 inch at a time, you should be able to complete the installation in about 1/2 hour.
Too bad they don't make a special tool for this... HAPPY SAILING!

Davis Instruments makes a pre-split tube for covering shrouds. They're really cheap

dlochner · Apr 24, 2023

Shrouds do not need covering and should not be covered. Covered shrouds are prone to crevice corrosion on the inner wires because water gets in and can't get out. It becomes oxygen deprived which causes the corrosion. Since the shrouds are not visible any subtle indications of corrosion are hidden. It all looks pretty until the mast is horizontal and the shrouds in the water.

Project_Mayhem · Apr 24, 2023

Correct me if I'm wrong @dlochner, but I believe the shroud covers are made primarily to prevent a jib from getting hung up on them as well as reduce chafe on running rigging

I use them on my old vinyl covered lifelines which will be replaced altogether as well as the lowest four feet of my backstay. It reduces chafe on my bimini. I usually get a size or two larger than the line it will be installed on. I'm hoping that the larger size will help reduce trapped moisture

dlochner · Apr 24, 2023

Project_Mayhem said:
Correct me if I'm wrong @dlochner, but I believe the shroud covers are made primarily to prevent a jib from getting hung up on them as well as reduce chafe on running rigging

Marketing departments will come up with amazing stories, that's their job.

If vinyl covered shrouds improved boat performance, i.e., making tacks smoother, then all the hot racers would be using them. How many racers in your area have shroud protectors? How many dock queens have them?

Project_Mayhem · Apr 24, 2023

At the minimum it does reduce chafe on my bimini and jib sheets

dlochner · Apr 24, 2023

Project_Mayhem said:
At the minimum it does reduce chafe on my bimini and jib sheets

How are the shrouds chafing on your bimini? And a bimini or jib sheets are a lot easier and cheaper to replace than a mast and all the rigging. Get rid of them!

Project_Mayhem · Apr 24, 2023

dlochner said:
How are the shrouds chafing on your bimini? And a bimini or jib sheets are a lot easier and cheaper to replace than a mast and all the rigging. Get rid of them!

My backstay goes through my bimini. It's not the easiest boat to build a bimini for. It took the PO a few years to find a shop that would make one

dlochner · Apr 25, 2023

Project_Mayhem said:
My backstay goes through my bimini. It's not the easiest boat to build a bimini for. It took the PO a few years to find a shop that would make one

I have split backstay that goes through the bimini. There are 2 zippers that open up a slot for the backstays. A small piece of leather is sewn at the end of the slot where the bimini and backstay might come in contact. After 10 or 15 years there is little or no wear on the leather.

thinwater · Apr 25, 2023

A cover that will slip on a lifeline sounds like a bad idea. In fact, I did that many, many years ago, and realized it was a bad idea. The sole exception can be where a sheet bears on the lifeline.

Shroud Protector Installation

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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