Day Sailor Life Lines

[JMHawkins]

How or what about abrasion resistance when passed through the stanchion or ring?

I've had Amsteel lifelines for just about two years now (courtesy of Brion's suggestion and a splicing lesson), running through typical stanchion through-holes. I see no visible chafing. I haven't been hitching my fender whips to the Amsteel however, so there isn't a) the chafe of the fender whip rubbing on the lifeline, and b) movement of the lifeline caused by fenders moving against the dock. I don't know if either of these would cause significant wear, but I've been caution about it and am quite happy so far.

I will second michelg's praise of the Splicing Wand.

The gates will be interesting. If I use 72 x dia. bury, that will be at or greater than the width of the gate assuming 5/16" or 1/4" line.

In that case, you can make a grommet, which will give you 2x the distance for your bury. Ring-hitch (or is it Cow-Hitch? I know it's not Lark's Head) one, ah, "end" of the grommet to your pelican hook, and then hitch the other end to your stanchion by passing it pelican and all through the bight. I did this. Since in my case, the gate is also the helmsman's backrest and keeps him (i.e me) from falling overboard backwards, I'm happy to have the double thickness.

[t4t0nk4]

I like that idea for the gate!

I'm guessing an HM line grommet is a brummel then bury one end this way and the other end that way. Makes sense to me. And a quick check of "Working Rope" convinces me. Although it seems to me that the grommet is just a big eye splice sans standing part. Doing the double hockle topography thingie would seem to simplify the initial steps. And maybe I'm wrong.

> later that same evening.....

Nope. The double hockle trick is not going to work. Both hockles need to be part of the eye. Oh well.

I too like the wands! Highly recommended.

brian bennett
s/v Dream Catcher

[JMHawkins]

I'm guessing an HM line grommet is a brummel then bury one end this way and the other end that way

Working Rope has the instructions for the HM Grommet. It's a bit trickier than the Brummel, but doable. Mine didn't turn out as nice looking as the Brummels on the lifelines, but it is functional.

[Jack]

I just spent an hour on a 2 million dollar Gun boat catamaran. All Carbon fiber...everywhere. You cannot even order a generator for this boat. They had Dyneema (spectra) lifelines with soft eyes and lashed. No steel, no fittings. Also same for the lazy jacks. The knotless spectra webbing on the bows is reported to be 10 yrs. old on some boats. Made right at Bainbridge Island from N.E.T.S. company. If you ever get a chance stop by for a visit. The machine that weaves knotless web will blow your mind!
I figure the Gunboat could use gold if it was the best choice. All big roundworld cats are using spectra webbing and none has been returned.
The life lines on a 48' cat Looked like 3/16" or 1/4" so. Te 1/4" is 4k breaking strength. Guess all lifelines should be sized for humans, and not for the boat huh?
Same as I changed to on my 34' Searunner Tri in Mexico. Very easy change over.

Jack

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