Has anyone ever experimented with swaging their own lifelines? I would like to replace mine and find swaging is rather expensive. I have access to a full equipped toolroom and hydraulic presses, I just need a little know how.
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Dan McGuire
Have Done It
I have swaged my own lifelines as well as other rigging. I use a tool I bought from West Marine. It is two bars with dies for various size lines and two bolts for clamping. I strip the coating off of the line and then double it back through the tool and tighten it down. It is not difficult at all. As I mentioned I have also done my own standing rigging. I feel confortable doing this, but I have received some criticism in the past saying that there is no way that it cannot be done properly without more expensive tooling.
I have swaged my own lifelines as well as other rigging. I use a tool I bought from West Marine. It is two bars with dies for various size lines and two bolts for clamping. I strip the coating off of the line and then double it back through the tool and tighten it down. It is not difficult at all. As I mentioned I have also done my own standing rigging. I feel confortable doing this, but I have received some criticism in the past saying that there is no way that it cannot be done properly without more expensive tooling.
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Terry
Colin, I did the lifelines on our H28 a few...
years ago. No big deal. Just remember to take your old gear in to get the right length of lines and type fittings. I'm trying to recall whether our boat had LH threads at the stern and RH threads at the bow or the other way around. I stayed with the white plastic coated cable. Most marine supply outfits have the tools and let you DIY (liability). I reused the old hooks and latches and just bought the replacement swage fittings. Depending upon the size of cable you may need a sleeve for the fitting. I saved about $200. Terry
years ago. No big deal. Just remember to take your old gear in to get the right length of lines and type fittings. I'm trying to recall whether our boat had LH threads at the stern and RH threads at the bow or the other way around. I stayed with the white plastic coated cable. Most marine supply outfits have the tools and let you DIY (liability). I reused the old hooks and latches and just bought the replacement swage fittings. Depending upon the size of cable you may need a sleeve for the fitting. I saved about $200. Terry
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Jim Quibell
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Geof
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Ed
Did mine last year.
I bought a hand swagging tool, the wire cutter, a spool of 3/16" line, and the fittings from Defender. Their catalog has an illustration of how to measure to get the correct line length and diameter. It took about 2 hours to make the new life-lines with new fittings, and I saved at least $200. I still have the tools and have helped another boater make his lines. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
I bought a hand swagging tool, the wire cutter, a spool of 3/16" line, and the fittings from Defender. Their catalog has an illustration of how to measure to get the correct line length and diameter. It took about 2 hours to make the new life-lines with new fittings, and I saved at least $200. I still have the tools and have helped another boater make his lines. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
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Jim Quibell
Dan's 4 page article - Sailing Feb/04
Sorry, I hope I didn't confuse you. The article is not about swaging, but you can check out the pics of Dan's boat showing his home made life-lines and standing rigging. Cheers,
Sorry, I hope I didn't confuse you. The article is not about swaging, but you can check out the pics of Dan's boat showing his home made life-lines and standing rigging. Cheers,
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Keith
YES
I just did a life line at West Marine. They have the line the fittings and they will let you use the equipment. They will not do it for you due to Lawyers. But they don't charge for the use either. Good Luck
I just did a life line at West Marine. They have the line the fittings and they will let you use the equipment. They will not do it for you due to Lawyers. But they don't charge for the use either. Good Luck
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Leonard Mack
Swaging vs nicropress
Some of you are confusing true swaging which means involves inserting the wire rope into the body of the fitting and then compressing the body for its full length using a very large hydraulic press. The termination that uses a loop of wire rope that is pinched onto itself with oval sleeves is made with the nicropress tool that sells for about $40.00
Some of you are confusing true swaging which means involves inserting the wire rope into the body of the fitting and then compressing the body for its full length using a very large hydraulic press. The termination that uses a loop of wire rope that is pinched onto itself with oval sleeves is made with the nicropress tool that sells for about $40.00
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Dan McGuire
Thanks Jim
I appreciate your complement. I sweated blood writing that article. I submitted Revision 8 to them which they accepted with just a few minor changes.
I appreciate your complement. I sweated blood writing that article. I submitted Revision 8 to them which they accepted with just a few minor changes.
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Tim
How much?
Many of you stated how much you saved but I want to know a rough figure to replace the lifelines if doing the swaging yourself. My boat is a 28 ft. Pearson with a single set of lifelines and a gate on the starboard quarter. I hope to build new lifelines that have a gate on both sides this spring. Tim R
Many of you stated how much you saved but I want to know a rough figure to replace the lifelines if doing the swaging yourself. My boat is a 28 ft. Pearson with a single set of lifelines and a gate on the starboard quarter. I hope to build new lifelines that have a gate on both sides this spring. Tim R
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Dan McGuire
About $50
I would guess about $50. That includes about forty feet of vinyl covered cable plus the fittings. Mine were just simple loops on each end. If it requires threaded ends, it would be quite a bit more. The $50 does not include the swaging tool, which cost me about $40. It could be done for about half that, if the parts were bought at the local hardware store, rather than a a marine supply store. Quality is an issue, which I won't get into here.
I would guess about $50. That includes about forty feet of vinyl covered cable plus the fittings. Mine were just simple loops on each end. If it requires threaded ends, it would be quite a bit more. The $50 does not include the swaging tool, which cost me about $40. It could be done for about half that, if the parts were bought at the local hardware store, rather than a a marine supply store. Quality is an issue, which I won't get into here.
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Ed
I swagged, not nico-pressed them
Tim: Get a hold of a Defender catalog either hard-copy or on their website. The prices for all the fittings and lines are provided. For my Hunter 34, I paid about $300 for both top and bottom lines, (including the cost of the tools), all the fittings, plus I went from 1/8" line to 3/16".
Tim: Get a hold of a Defender catalog either hard-copy or on their website. The prices for all the fittings and lines are provided. For my Hunter 34, I paid about $300 for both top and bottom lines, (including the cost of the tools), all the fittings, plus I went from 1/8" line to 3/16".
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Don K.
No Way
I was in a harbor on Lake Huron many years ago when early in the morning a boat came in that had lost it's skipper overboard during the night. After looking at the boat's life lines we could see that the nicropress fitting had failed and over he went. That line was supposed to be a LIFELINE. You have never seen so many skippers checking their lifelines and ordering new ones the following week! We spend a lot of money on stuff for our boats but please don't do the cheap route on a wire that could save your Life. I put new lifelines on my 26' last year for around $160.00. I ordered them from Rigging Only and I trust them with my life.
I was in a harbor on Lake Huron many years ago when early in the morning a boat came in that had lost it's skipper overboard during the night. After looking at the boat's life lines we could see that the nicropress fitting had failed and over he went. That line was supposed to be a LIFELINE. You have never seen so many skippers checking their lifelines and ordering new ones the following week! We spend a lot of money on stuff for our boats but please don't do the cheap route on a wire that could save your Life. I put new lifelines on my 26' last year for around $160.00. I ordered them from Rigging Only and I trust them with my life.
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Dan McGuire
Yes Way
I agree that it should be done right, but it can also be done inexpensively. If you don't think you have the knowledge or ability to do it correctly, then pay more to get done by someone else. I feel very confortably with what I have done with my lifelines. I bought good quality lines which have a breaking strength of almost 2000 pounds. I doubled the crimps. I took a test piece and was able to pull one of my cars with my truck. I then yanked on the cable with the truck and the cable broke. The crimps did not fail. I could also have done it even more inexpensively by buying a size larger cable at the local hardware. It would have increased the strength by nearly 50%, but unfortunely I did not have crimper big enough. By the way I did my lifelines for $50 on my Venture 23 which only has a single lifeline on each side. Obviously multiple or longer lines would be more expensive. West Marine says that crimp will be only about 70% as strong as the cable. What makes it stronger is that you use two crimps and the cable wraps around whatever is holding which adds significantly to its strength.
I agree that it should be done right, but it can also be done inexpensively. If you don't think you have the knowledge or ability to do it correctly, then pay more to get done by someone else. I feel very confortably with what I have done with my lifelines. I bought good quality lines which have a breaking strength of almost 2000 pounds. I doubled the crimps. I took a test piece and was able to pull one of my cars with my truck. I then yanked on the cable with the truck and the cable broke. The crimps did not fail. I could also have done it even more inexpensively by buying a size larger cable at the local hardware. It would have increased the strength by nearly 50%, but unfortunely I did not have crimper big enough. By the way I did my lifelines for $50 on my Venture 23 which only has a single lifeline on each side. Obviously multiple or longer lines would be more expensive. West Marine says that crimp will be only about 70% as strong as the cable. What makes it stronger is that you use two crimps and the cable wraps around whatever is holding which adds significantly to its strength.
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Terry
The tool that I used allowed either three or four.
crimps. A better way to stay with the boat is to wear a harness tethered to a jack line. Especially if you're alone on deck at night regardless of the sea conditions. Terry
crimps. A better way to stay with the boat is to wear a harness tethered to a jack line. Especially if you're alone on deck at night regardless of the sea conditions. Terry
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Ernie T
YES! I did it too
I too replaced the lifelines on my '79 H33. I used the tool talked about and crimp on end fittings. They went on without any hassle and hold up fine. One thing to remember though, the term "lifeline" is a bit of a misnomer. These were never meant to take the abuse of being thrown into at full force from a rogue wave, etc.. If you were thrown into them at full force, even if the cable itself and the swaged ends hold up, you risk snapping off a stanchion and going for an unintentional swim. As with everything, a little caution goes a long way.
I too replaced the lifelines on my '79 H33. I used the tool talked about and crimp on end fittings. They went on without any hassle and hold up fine. One thing to remember though, the term "lifeline" is a bit of a misnomer. These were never meant to take the abuse of being thrown into at full force from a rogue wave, etc.. If you were thrown into them at full force, even if the cable itself and the swaged ends hold up, you risk snapping off a stanchion and going for an unintentional swim. As with everything, a little caution goes a long way.
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Mike I.
Swage vs Crimp
I agree with Leonard; I think some are confusing "swaging" with "crimping". A swage is the fitting itself compressed on/around the cable. Crimping would mean an additional fitting (copper tubing; Nico Press sleeve) compressed around the cable that is looped around a thimble, to be fixed on an other fitting; turnbuckle, pelican hook, eye strap, etc. I hope my description ain't too muddy!
I agree with Leonard; I think some are confusing "swaging" with "crimping". A swage is the fitting itself compressed on/around the cable. Crimping would mean an additional fitting (copper tubing; Nico Press sleeve) compressed around the cable that is looped around a thimble, to be fixed on an other fitting; turnbuckle, pelican hook, eye strap, etc. I hope my description ain't too muddy!
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Dan McGuire
Check West Marine page 855
I don't know that West Marine is an expert, but they refer to a tool as a "Hand Swaging Tool" which is used to "swage your own oval tubes". A Boat US page 298 refers to the same tool as a swager used for proper hand crimping. Nicropress is a brand name.
I don't know that West Marine is an expert, but they refer to a tool as a "Hand Swaging Tool" which is used to "swage your own oval tubes". A Boat US page 298 refers to the same tool as a swager used for proper hand crimping. Nicropress is a brand name.
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Gord May
Swage vs Oval Sleeve
Mike I. is correct. There's a difference between a "Swaged Fitting" and a crimped "Oval Sleeve" (eg: Nicopress). There are hand tools intended for Swaging, as well as OTHER tools for crimping oval sleeves. Make certain the tool is matched to the application - then TAKE CARE (it IS called a "Lifeline"). Regards,
Mike I. is correct. There's a difference between a "Swaged Fitting" and a crimped "Oval Sleeve" (eg: Nicopress). There are hand tools intended for Swaging, as well as OTHER tools for crimping oval sleeves. Make certain the tool is matched to the application - then TAKE CARE (it IS called a "Lifeline"). Regards,
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