Safety Fence ( spectra )

[Jacko]

Hi all Im thinking of replacing my tired S/S saftey fence ( life lines) with spectra or similar is their any sailor that has done this and what is your results ? happy or unhappy / I have seen it on a few of the newer boats and wonder how the ware factor is where it passes through supports etc.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Hi all Im thinking of replacing my tired S/S saftey fence ( life lines) with spectra or similar is their any sailor that has done this and what is your results ? happy or unhappy / I have seen it on a few of the newer boats and wonder how the ware factor is where it passes through supports etc.

Try searching "lifeline amsteel" and I think you will find plenty.

[Doodles]

There are several thread about it. i think it's the only way to go, so I did mine a year or so ago. Here's some pics I posted to the most popular thread on the subject.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post860426

It's super easy to do and cost effective.

[Jacko]

Thanks Thinwater have found thread I seached before but for safty fence
All good Jacko

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Jacko,

First... geeze mon, don't call your life lines "safety fences". Ya won't get no respect, nohow!

But to answer your question, we changed to Dyneema 75 lifelines about three years ago, and like them fine. Had to add some short bits of Davis split PVC shroud covers where the Dyneema goes through the tops of the stanchions to stop some chafe, and some longer bits where the genoa sheets bear on them when the genny is poled out.

Of course, without destructive testing it's hard to know how much their strength has degraded, but 5 years seems to be a folk wisdom life span for the stuff.

We've also used it for the runners and the baby stay with no problems, and are considering it for our backstay when it needs renewing (fractional rig with swept back spreaders so the backstay doesn't do all that much).

Good luck,

Jim

[Jacko]

Thanks Jim funny isnt it where I grew up it was the safety fence but now I am a big guy I had better call it life lines Cheers Jacko

[roverhi]

FWIW, pulled the lifelines off the boat when I had some welding work done on the pushpit. Wanted to have temporary life lines so rigged some 7/16" double braid I had laying around. It was worse than worthless because it stretched so much under load that it nearly caused me to go overboard a couple of times. Borrowed some 1/4" Amsteel and it worked better than the wire lifelines. Way easier on the body and easy to rig. For temporary, just used bowlines on either end and lashed it to available fittings. Even though I used dacron thin stuff for the lashing, stretch under load wasn't an issue. Proper eye splices with thimbles and thin stuff Dyneema for the lashings and it would have been perfect.

[boatsail]

Did mine last summer...I would not hesitate as it is a really easy job

[Stumble]

Brion Toss, one of the best known riggers in the US won't install anything else anymore. He is of the opinion (that I share), that there is no good reason to use wire anymore, and a lot of good reasons not too.