Guard Rail Wire - 7 x 7 or 1 x 19 or 7 x 19?

[Jaguar 25]

What is the best type of stainless steel wire rope for guard rail wires. Mostly seen 1 x 19 being used but currently there is a 100 metres of 7 x 7 available on Ebay for £79 compared to £1.59 to £1.89 per metre for 1 x 19 and 7 x 19 respectively. All are 316 stainless.

I intend to use swageless fittings and do the replacement myself.

Are there any issues that I need to consider?

 

[prv]

7x7 is somewhat weaker than the same size in 1x19, maybe three-quarters as strong or so from memory when I was investigating shroud shackles for Kindred Spirit. Whether this matters for your usage I couldn't say; obviously the size will make a big difference.

Apart from that I can't see any particular issue with using the more flexible version.

Pete

 

[Seajet]

Jaguar 25,

you asked about anything else to consider, well I don't know if you have them, but this would be an ideal time to fit pelican hooks - the proper stainless jobs with an overcentre arm & locking collar not tiny bronze dinghy sail fittings sometimes seen used.

Bottlescrews are not necessary if one gets the length right; there are two versions, swage on or shackle onto an eye on the wire.

Not cheap ( about £11.00 ea ), but one of the single best improvements I have fitted, they obviously help with MOB, but any time getting in or out of the tender, and when at pontoons one can usually clip them back to the midships stanchion, making access in and out of the cockpit easier but the wires still tensioned to hold up fenders.

In a MOB situation they allow dropping the guardrails to get the casualty back - hopefully - then clipping back up, a major advantage in rough weather over cutting lashings then being left with no guardrails; lashings are of course just a lazy leftover from the days of RDF when quadrantal error meant one couldn't have a stainless link all around the boat.

Just a thought, but if you haven't got them I can't recommend too highly.

 

[Kelpie]

Any suggestions for where I might find pelican hooks in bulk? Ideally I would like them at both ends- aft for better cockpit access, and forward for getting the dinghy launched and recovered more easily. Would rather not spend £100 on it though!

 

[jwilson]

1x19 is nicer/smoother to run your hand along ....

 

[Eyore]

1x19 is overkill and overspec imo.Then again if you are made of money ,why not?

 

[Jaguar 25]

Jaguar 25,

you asked about anything else to consider, well I don't know if you have them, but this would be an ideal time to fit pelican hooks - the proper stainless jobs with an overcentre arm & locking collar not tiny bronze dinghy sail fittings sometimes seen used.

Bottlescrews are not necessary if one gets the length right; there are two versions, swage on or shackle onto an eye on the wire.

Not cheap ( about £11.00 ea ), but one of the single best improvements I have fitted, they obviously help with MOB, but any time getting in or out of the tender, and when at pontoons one can usually clip them back to the midships stanchion, making access in and out of the cockpit easier but the wires still tensioned to hold up fenders.

In a MOB situation they allow dropping the guardrails to get the casualty back - hopefully - then clipping back up, a major advantage in rough weather over cutting lashings then being left with no guardrails; lashings are of course just a lazy leftover from the days of RDF when quadrantal error meant one couldn't have a stainless link all around the boat.

Just a thought, but if you haven't got them I can't recommend too highly.

Thanks for that. Definitely worth me considering the pelican hooks.

 

[Seajet]

Any suggestions for where I might find pelican hooks in bulk? Ideally I would like them at both ends- aft for better cockpit access, and forward for getting the dinghy launched and recovered more easily. Would rather not spend £100 on it though!

I seem to remember Seateach chandlery, Emsworth Hants and on the net / in the magazines, had these pelican hooks.

It cost me around £100 just to do the aft 4 lines years ago - they seem a bit cheaper now if anything - but I think you'll be lucky to get 8 for less !

Worth it IMO, really worthwhile kit.

 

[Jaguar 25]

1x19 is overkill and overspec imo.Then again if you are made of money ,why not?

Just ordered some 316 1 x 19 at £1.30 per metre. Doesn't seem too expensive. Main coat is in the fittings. Decided to have the suggestion from Seajet for pelican hooks at the cockpit ends. These came out at £32 each including a swageless fitting for attaching to the wire but got 20% off.

Now trying to find replacement 'grommets' that locate the wire in the stanchions and the plastic wheels that go on the bow end of the wire to protect the genoa. Not much luck so far!

Thanks for all the advice.