Identify Rigging Bits

[redsky49]

In cleaning out the lazarette, I finally pulled out these two items which have resided in a dark corner ever since I purchased the boat (I am the 3rd owner).

They are each about 35' wire length, with an 8' rope tail. I have no idea what they are for. I do not have a spinnaker, by the way.

Any thoughts?

[Fiveslide]

Jack lines?

[SuW]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

Jack lines?

Yep, that would be my guess. Especially as there are two of them. How long is your deck from cockpit to bow?

[redsky49]

Jacklines! Bingo!

There is an attachment point at the aft end of the stemhead fitting, and at the stern they are run to the aft cleat.

It just didn't register with me as I have nylon jacklines, transferred from prior boat.

Thank you. Always worth getting a fresh view of things!

Cheers!

[roverhi]

Looks like coated wire spliced to dacron. If you have a staysail could be running backstays to triangulate the pull of that stay in bad weather. The rope tails are pretty short though unless they were led directly to a nearby winch.

The round wire could be a leg breaker if you stepped on the wire and it rolled. Doubt they were Jack Lines.

[Jim Cate]

why could they not be simple life lines? The thimble shackled at one end, the other being fed through the stanchions and then lashed at the other end.

Jim

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

why could they not be simple life lines? The thimble shackled at one end, the other being fed through the stanchions and then lashed at the other end.

Jim

Hmm... I'm thinking it might be difficult to feed either end through the stanchions being as there is an eye splice and thimble at both ends.

First guess is jack lines and second is running backstay as others have posted.

[Stumble]

Itcould be runners, but you would expect a longer tail for them. My guess is jacklines.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Hmm... I'm thinking it might be difficult to feed either end through the stanchions being as there is an eye splice and thimble at both ends.

First guess is jack lines and second is running backstay as others have posted.

Dang Wottie,you're right! I didn't see the second thimble. No way to get that through a stanchion hole!

I retract my thought... wrong again!

Jim

[redsky49]

I have a sloop rigged boat, roller-furling headsail, along with a detachable staysail stay (baby stay), for utilizing a tiny hanked-on staysail. In lieu of running backs for the short hoist staysail, I have permanently installed auxiliary stays to counteract the staysail forces on the mast.

The items in question in the original pic, are indeed jackstays. They could present a falling hazard, as they would roll if stepped upon. However, on my boat, they install very close to the cabin/deck juncture and are out of the way of foot traffic for nearly their entire run, vulnerable only on the foredeck.

In the attached pic you can see the substantial stem fitting (the forestay attachment is just visible at the top), with the D shackle at the aft end of the assembly where the jackstays would attach.