Rope Lifelines

[Bark]

The search thingy turned up an old thread that dealt primarily with the use of Spectra for lifelines (gist: Spectra is hard on hands), but I was interested in more general pros/cons regarding using rope for lifelines instead of wire. I need something to replace my old wires, and a guy at my marina suggested rope - I handn't considered it, but now I'm intrigued. Any thoughts? 3-strand, perhaps? Thanks.

Ben

[paladin]

careful.....what you choose.......ya dunno wanna have it stretch 30% when that will put you past the gun'l...

[Ron Joslin]

If you use your life lines as a clothes line ..... rope may stay wet too long and be too dirty. Will rope fit through the eyes on the stanchions? I think that the right kind & colour rope could look ok on the right wooden boat.

[Bark]

Ropes through the stanchion eyes shouldn't be a problem. And I think you're right, Chuck, about needing a low-stretch rope. I've heard Brion Toss is an advocate for rope lifelines, but I had trouble navigating his website and finding good information. I would think a traditional 3-strand would look good on the boat but, obviously, I wouldn't want to do it if there are good reasons not to ...

Ben

[Thorne]

Waste Marine sells a gray braided line (can't remember the name) supposedly built to replace wire for some applications -- like this one. I'm using it to reduce wear on line passing through a tube jam cleat that was eating my Hempex -- so far it has held up very well!

[Ian McColgin]

It might, barely, be possible to get a robust three strand dacron to stand up to your use. Big, like over 1/2".

If you stand off-shore in heavy weather you'll not want something that thick as the added cross section adds greatly to the damage the stauncheons may take form a boarding sea, as I learned at some cost when I had the bright idea of going with a thick fiber lifeline. There's a reason for thin.

Brion has pioneered wire size high modulous line for lifelines. The draw backs are that they are tricky to secure, chafe resistance is an issue, longevity uncertain and, excepting obvious chafe, inspection problematic.

Cost effective it's still hard to beat ss. I personally never thought much of vinal covers - always figured that was a corrosion site.

But different boats, different longsplices.

G'luck

[Jay Greer]

The, restored, Herreshoff Ketch "Bounty" uses three strand spun dacron for lifelines. An adjustable lashing at the bitter end keeps the tension set. Easy on the hands and nice to grab when needed.
JG

[Dan McCosh]

The way to go is 1x19 1/4 ins. bare wire. Tough, strong, rigid, and stays clean.

[Noah]

The melges 24 uses a single spectra life line. Probably only 1/4". It works great, and we have 5 guys that hang off that rope while bouncing up wind, and 600 boats couldn't be wrong.

Now on the Melges it's set up with about 5" of deflection in it so you can hike hard over the side. It could also be tight fitted if need be. It's much nicer than a wire life line, but you do need to check for wear every once in a while. We have a foam cover over the top of it to soften things up a bit.

[MAGIC's Craig]

FWIW, we have used double-braid rope lifelines aboard MAGIC for her 13 years and previously used 3-strand dacron on our BCC for another 12 years. Leathered at the eyes and shroud lashing points.

NE Ropes Double-braid seems to hold up well, does not stretch enough to be a problem over the 45+' along each side of our schooner and, using 7/16" stock, it is easy enough to see and to hold on to.

Recently, in the Woodenboat Foundation store in PT, I saw some of the new manila-"colored" double braid and I imagine if you "needed the look" this might do as well.

Different boats and different opinions.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p3a1ed3647ae2482467edb2d328a029e1/f1b792bf.jpg
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p3a1ed3647ae2482467edb2d328a029e1/f1b792bf.jpg)

[donald branscom]

The search thingy turned up an old thread that dealt primarily with the use of Spectra for................
[QUOTE]

One of my favorite subjects.
If you have ever fallen or almost fallen from a boat in the ocean it will completely change your mind about what most "yachtman" think.
Some think that if the lifelines are more than just above the knees and has stainless steel cables its ok. Well try grabbing onto one of those drooping little stainless cables you will get NO feeling of safety and it will hurt to try to hold onto it. And what if it has a broken strand? Those people are mostly concerned about how the boat looks - not your safety.

The truth is if you can have a solid pipe or tube railing 36 inches high
you will have a real feeling of security and safety. If you cant stand that idea use some 5/8 or larger braided line streched tight. The three strand nylon will stretch. If the boat is 30 ft. or longer this will work. There have been wind tunnel tests to see if these higher larger diameter railings increased the windage and it was found that it was negligable. So its all about the looks.

There are some "yachtsmen" that will say your boat is ugly or make jokes about you or your boat behind your back but don't worry about it. when you are out sailing they won't be with you.

[ssor]

I have SS lines through the stanchions that is over laid with three strand nylon that I opened and slipped over the wire. It is nice and easy on the hands.

[James River Rat]

AMSTEEL is one of the preferred brands.

AMSTEEL
A 12-Strand braided rope using Dyneema=AE fiber with our proprietary Samthane urethane coating. AmSteel is a non-rotational rope that yields extremely high strength and low stretch; equivalent to wire rope with only 1/7 the weight. In addition, the product is flexible, spliceable, and resists flex-fatigue and abrasion. Standard color: gray. *Size 7/64" changes from 12-strand to 8-strand construction.

Non-rotational
Excellent wear characteristics
Spliceable, easily inspected

APPLICATIONS
Competition Grade Running Rigging
Kite/Wakeboard/Waterski Lines
Trawl and Bridle Lines
Wire Replacement - Non Jacketed
High Performance Tug Lines
Pulling and Stringing Lines
Rodeo/Rigging/Utility
Low Stretch Support Lines (Wire Replacement)

Horizontal Lifelines

Wire Replacement Ropes





The offroad guys use them instead of steel cables. If you research that application you will find that they love it since if something snaps the line falls limp with no snap back.

That is where I am going after I decide to replace the old lines on my boat.

Ric

[dredbob]

Go to George Buehler's website and scroll down a little ways and look at the picture of Reg Townsend's Bugeye Schooner Rainbow. It has three strand rope lifelines. He built her in Malaysia, now at home on the Chesapeake.

Bob

http://www.georgebuehler.com

[Thorne]

Ric -

Well, obviously Amsteel is popular in BOTH Richmonds -- that's the stuff that I got at Waste Marine and couldn't remember the name of. So far it is wearing very well, but my use is mostly high-abrasion with stretch not an issue.

;0 )

[James River Rat]

Ric -

Well, obviously Amsteel is popular in BOTH Richmonds -- that's the stuff that I got at Waste Marine and couldn't remember the name of. So far it is wearing very well, but my use is mostly high-abrasion with stretch not an issue.

;0 )

I raced in the OTHER richmond about 20 years ago. Sears Cup. J24's. Sailed in more wind that I have EVER expereinced. Had our butts handed to us. But we did get to say we finished 8th in the Sears cup that year!!!