If I'm using incorrect terminology please educate me. Anywho. When I bought my boat the previous owner had removed the sidelines? lifelines? The lines that run along the edge of the boat and hopefully the kid from falling over. The line and the posts that hold them had all been removed and stowed inside the boat. Today while cleaning the interior I came across what I believe are the screws originally used to fix the posts to the deck. When I attempted to test fit one of the screw I found that there is simply a hole in the fiberglass deck and nothing for it to screw into. What is the proper method for re-installing these?
Sidelines? Lifelines?
- Thread starter PATBUZZARD
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The lines are "lifelines". The poles are "lifeline stanchions". The base of the stanchion should be caulked with a marine sealant like a 3-M 4200. They should be through bolted into a backing plate. I bought some 1/4" aluminum and cut backing plates out of it on a table saw fitted with a metal cutting blade. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures.
If the holes are passing through any areas where there is exposed core, the holes need special attention. Rotted core should be removed, the hole filled with epoxy and redrilled. Often people will drill them out oversized, fill with epoxy and then redrill to the correct size for mounting. See Don Casey's book This Old Boat. it has lots of useful information for the do it yourselfer.
Lifelines are an important piece of safety equipment. I wouldn't feel safe going forward without them in place.
If the holes are passing through any areas where there is exposed core, the holes need special attention. Rotted core should be removed, the hole filled with epoxy and redrilled. Often people will drill them out oversized, fill with epoxy and then redrill to the correct size for mounting. See Don Casey's book This Old Boat. it has lots of useful information for the do it yourselfer.
Lifelines are an important piece of safety equipment. I wouldn't feel safe going forward without them in place.
I've noticed some O'Days have the lifelines go from top-to-top from stern to bow. Others go from top-to-top except at the bow, where it dives to the aft-base of the pulpit. I assume this is to clear the jib. (Mine currently are at the top all the way around.)
Is it as safe to have them drop to the deck at the bow? If so, can it be retro fitted to one like mine? How? I could have someone weld a stainless loop to the base, but I don't know who could do that now, or how if they could come to the boat, the boat go to them, or to dismount the pulpit and take that to them. I also saw a boat that had the life lines drop, but mounted to the forward-most stanchions of the pulpit.
Is it as safe to have them drop to the deck at the bow? If so, can it be retro fitted to one like mine? How? I could have someone weld a stainless loop to the base, but I don't know who could do that now, or how if they could come to the boat, the boat go to them, or to dismount the pulpit and take that to them. I also saw a boat that had the life lines drop, but mounted to the forward-most stanchions of the pulpit.
Chris, I had the "droopers" on our C25, and have the straight ones on our C34. I didn't notice the "loss" on the 25, but would prefer that they be straight on bigger boats. Why? 'Cuz the foredeck area is much bigger on larger boats, more area to cover when going forward and I find I use the top line as a handhold guide (guide, not one of those "cling to it with a death grip" things). By guide, I mean I make like an OK sign with my hand and just run it along the line.
Don't take your pulpit off, get someone to come to the boat. You'll have to either change your line or buy a new one, since it'll most likely be a different length when all is said and done.
Personally, I wouldn't bother.
Your boat, your choice.
Don't take your pulpit off, get someone to come to the boat. You'll have to either change your line or buy a new one, since it'll most likely be a different length when all is said and done.
Personally, I wouldn't bother.
Your boat, your choice.
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