Lifelines

[bblaisen]

Has anyone used these guys The Rigging Center? I just ran into one of their ads and I am looking to replace my lifelines. I am not located near any local rigger so this seems like a good idea but I wanted any input before I spend over $1000. Thanks

[TomandAnitas34]

Too bad there have been no replies to this post. The most enthusiastic recommendations have been for this outfit: Marine Rigging Hardware - Seco South, Inc.
Personally, I have been driven to MADNESS trying to do-it-myself. Every site I've been to has 1/2 the parts I would need, and just enough have been out of stock to make it impossible. Its cost prohibitive, just for the shipping. I hate going to four different places for the parts. You know the drill.

[malbert73]

http://search.defender.com/?expression=lifeline%20kit

I replaced mine using the suncor kit 4 years ago and couldn't be happier.

[TomandAnitas34]

I was hopeing to reuse some of my old fittings. I'd only save $110 and I'd have to build a swage die for my hydraulic press. I'd wreck several studs to get the swage right, and all my savings would be gone. I'll get the kit from Suncor. It looks as good as the rest. Thanks for the tip. I'll go that way too.

[lovinlifebda]

I replaced the lifelines on our boat a couple of months ago with the Suncor kit. The fittings were easy to assemble and seem very robust. Time of course will tell but at this point I am pleased with the product.

[Sailmonkey]

We've had the suncor fittings on now for a year.......So far I am extremly pleased. As a plus they were extremly easy to assemble.

[s/v Jedi]

Fittings? Suncore?

All you need is Samson Amsteel and riggers bag of tools.

ciao!
Nick.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Fittings? Suncore?

All you need is Samson Amsteel and riggers bag of tools.

ciao!
Nick.

I started down that route, even experimented with dynex dux on the lower lifeline starboard side. As it turns out the holes through our stanchions eat dux. I could have put heatshrink over the dux where it passes though the stanchions but it would always be nagging me. Instead I used uncoated wire and am happy with it. If the stanchions were smooth bore I would have used dux.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Fittings? Suncore?

All you need is Samson Amsteel and riggers bag of tools.

ciao!
Nick.

Maybe true, but once you add up the amsteel, turnbuckles, and gate fittings, the price probably will be similar. I suppose you can tension without turnbuckles though?

You have gates?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Maybe true, but once you add up the amsteel, turnbuckles, and gate fittings, the price probably will be similar. I suppose you can tension without turnbuckles though?

You have gates?

that's one of the beauties of soft rigging, a smaller size of line becomes a "turnbuckle" for a larger one.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Maybe true, but once you add up the amsteel, turnbuckles, and gate fittings, the price probably will be similar. I suppose you can tension without turnbuckles though?

You have gates?

No turnbuckles, no gate fittings, none of that stuff that can fail and kill. A good friend of us went overboard mid Atlantic because of these.

Lashings instead of turnbuckles. Splices and knots instead of gate fittings. Looks fantastic and seamanlike too.

If your stanchions are drilled through with sharp edges, use a Dremel to round the sharp edges or, much better, use a larger drill to enlarge the holes to a diameter that will accept pieces of a small diameter 316 pipe. Insert the pipe pieces and keep in place with any method (epoxy glue or tap with mallet and tool to enlarge edge diameter etc.)

My lower lifeline holes in the stanchions were sharpish too but the line is fine after 9 years... a little chafing is visible but nothing warranting replacement yet. The upper lifeline is a different story as it gets handled a lot and would chafe badly. Luckily my stanchions have thimble-like holes there with zero chafing issues.

ciao!
Nick.

[Geoduck]

I love my rope lifelines! Wouldn't have it any other way!

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

No turnbuckles, no gate fittings, none of that stuff that can fail and kill. A good friend of us went overboard mid Atlantic because of these.

Lashings instead of turnbuckles. Splices and knots instead of gate fittings. Looks fantastic and seamanlike too.



ciao!
Nick.

Nick,

If you get the chance, please post up a photo of your gates. I bought pelican hooks for this area, but wasnt sure if a knot couldn't work as well.

[Geoduck]

I have pelican hooks to keep the lines tight but also a knot at the gate when unhooked just in case.

[Cotemar]

Synthetic lifelines is the way to go.

See attached pdf for pictures and more info