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gull1066

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Hi,

I have stainless steel wire as a guard rail which runs from the pullpit but stops short of the pushpit. I understand the reason for this but was wondering what is the best thing to use to extend the wire so it reaches the pushpit, If that makes sense.

Is there a proper item or is it just a case of adding a lenght of 5mm rope.
 
My understanding is that the gap is to allow for rope lashings that can be cut to drop the guard rail, enabling recovery of a MOB. I'm thinking of having mine shortened to allow space for lashings. I would look for some rope which is not affected too much by UV.
Allan
 
gull1066 said:
Is there a proper item or is it just a case of adding a lenght of 5mm rope.
Click to expand...

I have seen bottlescrews used but I, like many others, use multiple turns of 3 or 4mm terylene braid. This allows the guardwire to be tightened sufficiently and, if needed, to be quickly cut to lower the guardwire in emergency. Keep an eye on them for chafe and UV damage.
 
How short of the pushpit? One boat I have sailed on had the wire stop at the stanchion by the forward end of the cockpit and the remaining span was a webbing strap, shackled to the wire and lashed to the pushpit. It made sitting out on the coaming a lot more comfortable.

Rob.
 
The correct term is 'Pelican hooks', and they are a vital, largely underestimated safety aid.

They are immediately a total saviour if losing someone overboard then trying to recover them; I know, as I was the berk overboard !

After over 40 years sailing dinghies and cruisers I somehow managed to capsize my tender at the mooring...I think the message I learned is ' Don't think it can't happen to you, Smart a**e !

When I mentioned this on my sailing club forum, it turned out 3 other boat owners had done the same, 1 went overboard in January a couple of years ago and was going under, only saved by the rather miracoulous timing of a passing workboat spotting him !

I know people who think guardrails, let alone Pelican hooks, are too expensive to bother with; I hope they and their crews/ girlfriends/ chums don't find out the hard way...

I have no connection with this company, just an answer on google who seem to get it right...


http://www.gsproducts.co.uk/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26_189_192
 
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I would suggest Pelican Hooks on the guardrails - at the pushpit end at least - are a better idea, if inconveniently a touch more expensive.

The idea of lashing guardwires at the ends originated in the 1970's when we had to use Radio Direction Finding, and linked all - metal guardrails presented the problem of 'quadrantal error'.

As we are thankfully past the days of comedy RDF nulls of 30+ degrees, it seems a poor move to cut lashings and disable guardrails when already in a bad situation and getting people back from overboard.

4 Pelican hooks to kit out the guardrails at the cockpit end are available for the price of a bottle or two of gin !
 
Alahol2 and Vara both mention using lashings for the job.
Also, I concur with replacing annually as being a must.
UV degradation caused two men overboard in my local cold sailing waters, when a wave threw both against the lifelines when going forward to sort out a snarlup.
The lashings had failed due to Ultra Violet degration.(both recovered quickly, but shocked)
I like the pelican hook idea too from the OP as it can be undone whilst stressed.
Certainly a knife in holster near to hand will be good forward planning if in the former setup the lifelines need dropping to recover casualties.
 
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