Guardrail netting

rwoofer

rwoofer

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Want to keep my 3 year old triplets in the boat and so want to fit netting to the guardrails. Trawling the forum suggests that Polyester is far more preferable to Nylon (last longer and is therefore safer), but all the chandleries stock Nylon.

Anyone know where you can get suitable polyester netting for the job?
 
rb_stretch said:
Want to keep my 3 year old triplets in the boat and so want to fit netting to the guardrails. Trawling the forum suggests that Polyester is far more preferable to Nylon (last longer and is therefore safer), but all the chandleries stock Nylon.

Anyone know where you can get suitable polyester netting for the job?
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We prefer to keep our kids in the cockpit. Only under skippers instruction are they allowed forward of the sprayhood. Good sprayhood and dodgers on the rails provide great protection in this area.
 
Thx for answers so far:

Bridport nets have a massive selection, but just can't find the right stuff for guardrails.

With triplets I know 3 harnesses ain't going to work. It didn't work with their walking harnesses :)

Only wish I had the time to make my own - I don't...

Dodgers and sprayhood are an interesting option but very expensive. Not sure the girls would see over dodgers/sprayhood so I suspect it would encourage them to climb.

As you might guess, handling 3 at once is no easy task, which is why netting has come out as top choice despite the disadvantages mooring etc....
 
Suggest you speak to your local chandler. Whether nylon or polyester is less important than simply having the stuff up there in the first place. Yes one will degrade quicker than another but the children will grow up quicker. The net forms a mental barrier more than a physical one and you still have to watch the the children all the time they are on deck. Don't hesitate - put the net up and take the kids sailing.
 
Not sure where the idea of Polyester netting comes from. I have only seen nylon on offer (Jimmy Green and Plastimo for example plus the online chandlers such as Force 4). The netting needs to be able to absorb loads and stretch to fit the space. Seems to me that nylon is the appropiate material.
 
Tranona said:
Not sure where the idea of Polyester netting comes from. I have only seen nylon on offer (Jimmy Green and Plastimo for example plus the online chandlers such as Force 4). The netting needs to be able to absorb loads and stretch to fit the space. Seems to me that nylon is the appropiate material.
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Was going on what old threads said (from about 3 years ago) that nylon degrades quickly with UV making it far less safe ie. it might looks OK, but will break easily under load (like a toddler falling into it).

Happy to be corrected as I'm going on the information of others.
 
:):)

suggest U try ropseller.co.uk based at Bridport - they supply white Nylon UV resistant per metre for guardrails :)

added Tuesday am
ropeseller sell a large range of Netting for all sorts of uses, including the specific Guard Rail netting
 
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rb_stretch said:
Dodgers and sprayhood are an interesting option but very expensive. Not sure the girls would see over dodgers/sprayhood so I suspect it would encourage them to climb.
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I agree, we had this setup on our Centaur with my children (aged 2 and 4), they spent most of their time trying to look over the dodgers by standing on the cockpit seats, not the safest! Will be replacing with netting this year so they can sit in the cockpit and see out.

I'll be interested to see which netting option you go for!
 
We've got what i think is nylon netting from Force4 on Rampage for just this purpose. Had it on for 2 seasons now with no sign of degradation - but the line at the bottom keeping it in tension has given up the ghost and required replacement. Once UV starts to do its work, you will notice it! The surface of the rope get powdery and will snap when you apply a bit of tension. I'd go with the easily available stuff if I were you. You don't say your cruising area - I wouldn't really worry too much if you're in northern European waters, the UV only really gets a grip in the Med.
 
rb_stretch said:
Want to keep my 3 year old triplets in the boat and so want to fit netting to the guardrails. Trawling the forum suggests that Polyester is far more preferable to Nylon (last longer and is therefore safer), but all the chandleries stock Nylon.

Anyone know where you can get suitable polyester netting for the job?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't trust netting to keep a child on the boat.

my children like to sit on the leeward rail when sailing, trying to dangle their feet in the water. They wear lifejackets with d rings on the back, attached to lines, the lines are attached to a central point on the boat, so they cannot fall over the side.
 
We found that the standard Jimmey Green White netting lasted well, probably around 5 years. Definatly net up for todlers, even if its only to catch all the things they drop. We had netting for 5 years and it gave us peace of mind through todler hood and into young kids and practically was very usefull catching many of the things that I might have dropped over board, I now have to try and remeber I cant just lob the bucket or item forwards and it will stay on the boat!
ON the down side I found it caught on my shoes as I walked on deck near the edge, but that was a minor inconvenience.

PS make sure you have a suitably secured knife to hand to cut it away if you have to retrive a MOB etc.
 
northwind said:
I wouldn't trust netting to keep a child on the boat.
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Out of interest, why not? (assuming reasonable conditions when kids are likely to be on deck)

Standard guardrails must be, what, about chest-height on a 3-year-old? I know I couldn't fall over a chest-high bulwark. As long as the bottom of the net is well-secured so they can't slip under (much easier with perforated aluminium toe-rails!) it's hard to see how a child might accidentally fall out.

Entirely academic here, as I don't have kids and am not trying to tell you how you should look after yours :)

Pete
 
You could try visiting Kayospruce at Segensworth ,Fareham(01489581696) their catalogue lists several types of Mesh for instance of the Trampoline-woven type in white or black.And what they term 'Skip Netting'.Perhaps a phone call will help.

ianat182
 
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