change guardwires to guardrails

[CharlesM]

Hello All

On the vessel I am currently purchasing the deck is flat, and as such it is rather difficult to add grabrails the full lenght of the deck at a decent or practical hight.

As an alternative, I am considering removing the guard wires, and replacing them with tubing... essentially extending the pullpit all the way to the pushpit. I saw something like this on a 55' vessel in SA, and it certainly gives a feeling of security. At the same time the guardrails could act as grabrails (although inboard grab rails would be better than outboard ones)

Can anyone think of any pitfalls in doing this, or any reason not to.

The vessel is 43'.

thanks
Charles

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mirabriani]

1. cost
2. looks
3. potential for more damage than wires
why not consider higher stanchions and double wires?
All in my opinion of course
Briani

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[steve_cronin]

Then there\'s...

MOB recovery.

Wires can be undone. Rigid 25mm tubing is a different matter.

Lifeboats have inboard solid rails but these are attached to the superstructure of course.

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[ianabc]

Many metal boats ( perhaps google metal boat society website and search there...) have solid rails about 36 inches in height from deck. The rails are usually welded solid with gate at mid ship so that the shrouds provide a hand hold!
Some say they are much safer than guard wires.....
Almost all pilot boats use these but they are attached some distance inboard
Brent Swain / oragami metal boats, suggests that they are safer....
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Building a steel sailboat in Comox, B.C. Canada.

 

[ongolo]

I would not want wires for safety. Mine are 20mm solid round 91 cm high.

Solid round has the advantage that it is more springy than pipe, the stanchions are also 20mm round and the whole lot is so that you cannot deform it, but springy nough not to break your ribs if you connect with it.

Between the rear two of the 4 shrouds for each mast, is a boarding gate closed by a boarding stairs (rather than ladder so that my dog can climb it).

In a MOB situation this will allow retrieval and it is also possible to get down to the water level quite safely.

How ever, for most boats where weight palys a role, my hand rails might seem havey, but the 20mm round bar could be cut of to make all sorts of things in an emergency. I have a lathe on board and I am a hobby smith, so the rails are my material store.

The 65cm wires commonly found are a joke just to help you topple over nicely.

regards ongolo

<hr width=100% size=1>1000 dream about it, 100 talk about it, 10 start and 1 completes it

 

[roger]

The main point is the hieght you can use without ruining the boats looks A barrier should be hip hieght at least to stand any chance of working. Our standard practice is to be clipped on all the time whether in cockpit or on deck. It saves a lot of worrying. Obviously we have jackstays. You then go forward on the windward side of the deck so you have further to fall before you go overboard.
With your larger boat are likely to have less of a problem but then you may compensate by going out in worse weather.
I dont think rails are a reasonable solution on their own - they may be part of a solution.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[saylrboy]

I've sailed on boats with both types. By far I prefer tubes. In fact, I think that the standard thigh-high wires are less safe than nothing at all. The only downsides that I see to tubes are weight and cost. In either case, make sure that the top tube/wire is high enough that it can't catch you behind the leg and pitch you overboard.

David

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[MainlySteam]

Perhaps you are over estimating the difficulty of getting around a flat deck on a 43 foot vessel.

Our own boat is mostly flush decked so no grab rails for much of it. Have never found it to be of concern at all because you can keep well inboard when going forward - and if a secure handhold is needed one can hold onto the boom, mainsheet, vang and what have you - there is no cabin in the way so can do this and the other dangers/discomforts of a narrow side deck do not exist. We have about 6 foot of raised cabin with handles immediately in front of the cockpit, and getting past that is the worst part of going forward.

I find boats with side decks more intimidating now, even with their handles.

John



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[spark]

Your boat's probably just big enough to make them high (minimum: hip) and strong enough, in which case, if you can afford it, do it. If not, I'd get rid of the guard wires altoghether and fit jackstays as close to the centreline as possible and clip on whenever you feel unsafe.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qei.co.uk/spark.html>Spark is afloat and sailing</A>