Lifebelt? Harness? ...? Vocabulary question

Tripulante · 03-12-2006, 19:01

Hi,
I'm looking for the English term for the "thing" that sailors wear to secure themselves to the ship (i.e. avoid falling overboard especially in heavy weather or falling off the ratlines, etc.)? Thanks in advance.

**S/V Elusive** · 03-12-2006, 19:37

A person wears a "harness" which has a "Lanyard" attached that connects (typically) to a "hardpoint" or a "Jackline". A Jackline is a safety line run, fixed at both ends, which keeps the attached person from leaving the boat.

Hope this helps.

Tripulante · 03-12-2006, 20:36

Thanks, yes, this helps a lot!! So is "harness" and "safety harness" the same in sailing, or is only one of them (usually) used?

Just as follow-up questions: Is "lifebelt" ever used as equivalent to "harness"? (And in case you know: Is it used so in other contexts apart from sailing, for example in climbing or so?) Similarly, is "lifeline" ever used in this context? And do I understood you right in that "lanyards" are the two "lines" that are always fixed to the harness and which can be clipped to the hardpoint or Jackline?

Thanks for your patience!!

DeepFrz · 03-12-2006, 20:54

Lanyards are more usually called tethers. I think this link should help explain it all.

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/personalsafety.html

Deep

Tripulante · 03-12-2006, 21:30

Great, thanks!!

**Kai Nui** · 03-12-2006, 21:34

Tripulante, Lifeline is occasionaly used in this context, but not correctly. Lifelines refer to the fixed lines attached to stansions running around the perimeter of the deck.

seafox · 04-12-2006, 01:11

We call the webbing around the boat that the tethers attach to "jack stays"

DeepFrz · 04-12-2006, 09:57

Ahhh, I never understood what "jackstays" were. There are so many regional variations in terms. So "English" word or phrase may be something quite different in different areas of the world. Exciting, eh (huh) (yah)?

Deep

**GordMay** · 05-12-2006, 03:10

In addition to the modern usage of jackstay as a safety line, I believe the term originally described running rigging on gaff-rigged vessels.
Anyone ...

hellosailor · 05-12-2006, 20:43

Tripulante, a "lanyard" typically refers to a light piece of line, or woven line/plastic, that is used to attach a pistol to the owner (i.e. the Royal Canadian Mounted Police use them to ensure a pistol isn't dropped and lost in the snow) or to the similar lines that tether a child's mittens to their coat sleeves, or to the line which a lifeguard or camp counselor keeps a whistle around their neck on.

"Harness" is a general word and you may find that we are often vague in American English, when we should say 'safety harness' we will usually say 'harness' because the context makes it clear whether we are talking about a sailor's safety harness, or a mule and a plow harness.<G> It can be confusing, yes.

I've never heard the term "lifebelt" used by a contemporary sailor, my understanding (whih may be wrong) is that lifebelts were belts of bouyant material, worn as a life preserver, in past times. Seems like the term was in use through WW2. You will find web definitions for it similarly:

personal flotation device: Information from Answers.com

A personal flotation device (also named PFD, lifejacket, life preserver, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, life belt) is a device designed to ...
www.answers.com/topic/life-vest-1 - 73k - Cached - Similar pages
life belt: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

life belt n. A life preserver worn like a belt. ... Back to Top Mentioned In. life belt is mentioned in these AnswerPages: ...
www.answers.com/topic/life-belt - 41k - Cached - Similar pages

British=lifebelt

lifebuoy, lifebelt sp n :: life buoy, life ring. Liffey water n :: Guinness [the brewery is on the R. Liffey, which flows through Dublin]. ...
cgi.peak.org/~jeremy/retort.cgi?British=lifebelt - 6k - Cached - Similar pages
Saving Private Ryan: M1926 lifebelt

Supplied by the U.S. Navy, the M1926 life belt was issued to soldiers ... The M1926 life belt can be seen many times during the opening fight for Omaha ...
www.sproe.com/l/lifebelt.html - 10k - Cached - Similar pages
life belt- WordWeb dictionary definition

Noun: life belt lIf belt. Belt attaching you to some object as a restraint in order to prevent you from getting hurt ... Encyclopedia: Life belt. Nearest ...
www.wordwebonline.com/en/LIFEBELT - 6k - Cached - Similar pages
Stock Photograph of Girls on the beach with inflatable lifebelt ...

Girls on the beach with inflatable lifebelt stock photograph by Image Source. Fotosearch Stock Photography helps you find the perfect photo, fast!
www.fotosearch.com/IGS374/is549-009/ - 19k - Cached - Similar pages
Stock Photograph of Life belt - Search Photographs Photos Images ...

Life belt stock photograph by Image Source. Fotosearch Stock Photography helps you find the perfect photo, fast! Our search engine features 100 royalty free ...
www.fotosearch.com/IGS632/is956-049/ - 22k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.fotosearch.com ]

03-12-2006, 19:01	#1
Tripulante Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	Lifebelt? Harness? ...? Vocabulary question Hi, I'm looking for the English term for the "thing" that sailors wear to secure themselves to the ship (i.e. avoid falling overboard especially in heavy weather or falling off the ratlines, etc.)? Thanks in advance.

03-12-2006, 19:37	#2
S/V Elusive Moderator Site Helper Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ventura Harbor, CA Boat: Endeavour, Ketch, 43 ft., Elusive Posts: 2,278	A person wears a "harness" which has a "Lanyard" attached that connects (typically) to a "hardpoint" or a "Jackline". A Jackline is a safety line run, fixed at both ends, which keeps the attached person from leaving the boat. Hope this helps. __________________ "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." - William Arthur Ward Thomas

03-12-2006, 21:34	#6
Kai Nui Captain Site Administrator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Moss Landing, Ca Boat: 37' Piver Lodestar - Kai Nui Posts: 4,444 Images: 80	Tripulante, Lifeline is occasionaly used in this context, but not correctly. Lifelines refer to the fixed lines attached to stansions running around the perimeter of the deck. __________________ There is no better bilge pump than a scared sailor with a bucket. KAI NUI

05-12-2006, 03:10	#9
GordMay Administrator Site Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 9,736 Images: 232	In addition to the modern usage of jackstay as a safety line, I believe the term originally described running rigging on gaff-rigged vessels. Anyone ... __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

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03-12-2006, 20:36	#3
Tripulante Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	Thanks, yes, this helps a lot!! So is "harness" and "safety harness" the same in sailing, or is only one of them (usually) used? Just as follow-up questions: Is "lifebelt" ever used as equivalent to "harness"? (And in case you know: Is it used so in other contexts apart from sailing, for example in climbing or so?) Similarly, is "lifeline" ever used in this context? And do I understood you right in that "lanyards" are the two "lines" that are always fixed to the harness and which can be clipped to the hardpoint or Jackline? Thanks for your patience!!

03-12-2006, 20:54	#4
DeepFrz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Winnipeg Boat: None at this time Posts: 791	Lanyards are more usually called tethers. I think this link should help explain it all. http://www.landfallnavigation.com/personalsafety.html Deep

03-12-2006, 21:30	#5
Tripulante Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	Great, thanks!!

04-12-2006, 01:11	#7
seafox Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: new zealand Boat: Lotus 10.6 Posts: 1,253 Images: 25	We call the webbing around the boat that the tethers attach to "jack stays"

04-12-2006, 09:57	#8
DeepFrz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Winnipeg Boat: None at this time Posts: 791	Ahhh, I never understood what "jackstays" were. There are so many regional variations in terms. So "English" word or phrase may be something quite different in different areas of the world. Exciting, eh (huh) (yah)? Deep

05-12-2006, 20:43	#10
hellosailor Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,327	Tripulante, a "lanyard" typically refers to a light piece of line, or woven line/plastic, that is used to attach a pistol to the owner (i.e. the Royal Canadian Mounted Police use them to ensure a pistol isn't dropped and lost in the snow) or to the similar lines that tether a child's mittens to their coat sleeves, or to the line which a lifeguard or camp counselor keeps a whistle around their neck on. "Harness" is a general word and you may find that we are often vague in American English, when we should say 'safety harness' we will usually say 'harness' because the context makes it clear whether we are talking about a sailor's safety harness, or a mule and a plow harness.<G> It can be confusing, yes. I've never heard the term "lifebelt" used by a contemporary sailor, my understanding (whih may be wrong) is that lifebelts were belts of bouyant material, worn as a life preserver, in past times. Seems like the term was in use through WW2. You will find web definitions for it similarly: personal flotation device: Information from Answers.com A personal flotation device (also named PFD, lifejacket, life preserver, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, life belt) is a device designed to ... www.answers.com/topic/life-vest-1 - 73k - Cached - Similar pages life belt: Definition and Much More from Answers.com life belt n. A life preserver worn like a belt. ... Back to Top Mentioned In. life belt is mentioned in these AnswerPages: ... www.answers.com/topic/life-belt - 41k - Cached - Similar pages British=lifebelt lifebuoy, lifebelt sp n :: life buoy, life ring. Liffey water n :: Guinness [the brewery is on the R. Liffey, which flows through Dublin]. ... cgi.peak.org/~jeremy/retort.cgi?British=lifebelt - 6k - Cached - Similar pages Saving Private Ryan: M1926 lifebelt Supplied by the U.S. Navy, the M1926 life belt was issued to soldiers ... The M1926 life belt can be seen many times during the opening fight for Omaha ... www.sproe.com/l/lifebelt.html - 10k - Cached - Similar pages life belt- WordWeb dictionary definition Noun: life belt lIf belt. Belt attaching you to some object as a restraint in order to prevent you from getting hurt ... Encyclopedia: Life belt. Nearest ... www.wordwebonline.com/en/LIFEBELT - 6k - Cached - Similar pages Stock Photograph of Girls on the beach with inflatable lifebelt ... Girls on the beach with inflatable lifebelt stock photograph by Image Source. Fotosearch Stock Photography helps you find the perfect photo, fast! www.fotosearch.com/IGS374/is549-009/ - 19k - Cached - Similar pages Stock Photograph of Life belt - Search Photographs Photos Images ... Life belt stock photograph by Image Source. Fotosearch Stock Photography helps you find the perfect photo, fast! Our search engine features 100 royalty free ... www.fotosearch.com/IGS632/is956-049/ - 22k - Cached - Similar pages [ More results from www.fotosearch.com ]

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