How tight shall I do my new guard rail wires?

Yes, the ISAF offshore special regulations are aimed at the world of racing. However, they do provide some sensible pointers that cruising folk can follow as guidelines/benchmarks to their advantage. For example, plastic-covered might be considered prettier but nobody can deny that catastrophic failure might be lurking, unseen beneath the covering. Likewise the requirement that the liferaft needs to be deployable within 15 seconds. How many of us have actually timed it, especially with a six-man valise that is stored in a locker? How many have actually tried emergency steering without a rudder when it is blowing a hoolie, with seas to match?

I do not race any longer but I do use the same scrutineering check sheet that I use for the RMSR as a check for my own boat. It's my life that's at stake.
 
bedouin said:
In my opinion the most important function of lifelines is to act as a handrail - to support you when you place a hand on it or stagger against it. For that to be effective you need limited deflection when you put a moderate weight on it.
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I would also need arms like a gorilla's. Two foot high handrails aren't much use to grown ups.
 
JumbleDuck said:
It may be different on racing boats where the crew like to sit legs a-dangle over the edge, but on a cruising boat I think the best term would be "tripwires" (or "TRIPwires, if you prefer). I have 'em, but I don't think they contribute to my safety, though they are useful for tying the fenders on.
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I used to think so, but a few years ago I was racing on a boat where one of the other crew overbalanced on the windward side deck, bounced off the coach roof and was caught perfectly by the leeward 'tripwires'. Would've been a definite MoB otherwise. And to be honest I didn't expect the guardwires to work so well, but they did.
 
Since boats are curved then the more tension applied the more the tendency for the stanchions to be pulled inwards. In my view it's simply a question of getting them just beyond the point where the wires sag, but not adding so much tension that the stanchions have a permanent stress pulling them inwards.

As for fenders they have been attached to the wires for the last thirty years on various boats and so it will remain.
 
lpdsn said:
I used to think so, but a few years ago I was racing on a boat where one of the other crew overbalanced on the windward side deck, bounced off the coach roof and was caught perfectly by the leeward 'tripwires'. Would've been a definite MoB otherwise. And to be honest I didn't expect the guardwires to work so well, but they did.
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That's a good point, but on the whole I think I trust my harness more than the guardrails. The skipper of the Lion went clean under the guardrails - though to be fair his harness didn't save him either. http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/Lion.pdf

Netting looks like a good idea, though. I bought some but didn't fit it when my crew was too small to climb over the guardrails, but now he's a bit bigger I think it may be time to fit it.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I would also need arms like a gorilla's. Two foot high handrails aren't much use to grown ups.
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My stanchions are higher than my knees and I can just about reach the lifelines when standing erect. However, when making my way forward under sail I rarely (if ever) walk erect; I tend to stoop and that brings my hand closer to the lines. I imagine that people who are taller than I would need to, maybe, stoop further.
 
Boreades said:
But
"When a deflecting force of 40N is applied to a life line midway between supports of an upper or single lifeline,"
is surely complete bullexs, because when a shock load, like a crew member falling against the life line in bad sea conditions, the number of N is greater than 40N
?
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You do take things literally - don't you.
They should be tensioned yo that point NOT good for that force!!
 
Applied maths being what it is, for a given horizontal load on the guard rails, the slacker they are the lower will be the tension in the rails although the horizontal load on the stanchions will remain the same. Same principle applies to hanging a picture by wire on a hook.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I would also need arms like a gorilla's. Two foot high handrails aren't much use to grown ups.
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When I make my way forward particularly when undersail, I usually stoop (partly to keep the head below boom height) and run my hand along the guard rail. I think it would be dangerous not to have something to hold on to if you stumbled.
 
I removed our lifelines to use as templates for the new ones and surprisingly I do feel less safe without them even in our winter marina.

The problem appears to be being used to the wires touching your leg or arm when looking at something else and then knowing your proximity to the edge of the boat.

Guard rails removed, walking about as usual - splash.
 
My new boat is currently guardwire-less. I have actually obtained a second hand set to fit, but am in no great hurry to actually fit them. Very handy when in a marina or raft, nothing for the headsail to snag on, much easier to get the dinghy aboard, easier to get up and down the side decks. Still, common sense says I should fit them, I suppose...
 
bedouin said:
When I make my way forward particularly when undersail, I usually stoop (partly to keep the head below boom height) and run my hand along the guard rail. I think it would be dangerous not to have something to hold on to if you stumbled.
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I am perhaps fortunately to have nice, solid teak handrails running the full length of the coachroof.
 
xyachtdave said:
Admission first - I'm a bit of a tart for aesthetics!



I'm now back at home wondering if a bit of slack is desirable, even if it looks like the lines were poorly measured?

Thoughts appreciated!
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They are supposed to stop a person from falling overboard so could be subject to high loads. My test is to stand on them, as in stepping up or down from a pier. If they can take the weight of the heaviest person onboard without too much deflection, or failing, they are OK.
 
JumbleDuck said:
It may be different on racing boats where the crew like to sit legs a-dangle over the edge, but on a cruising boat I think the best term would be "tripwires" (or "TRIPwires, if you prefer). I have 'em, but I don't think they contribute to my safety, though they are useful for tying the fenders on.
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I can remember sailing on a Twister in the 1960's, where the owner had stipulated no lifelines when it had been built by Uphams. He believed they gave a false sense of security. Well my opinion working on the foredeck was the opposite. I sailed with him once, never again. Trying to change a headsail with no support was a nightmare and the sails both ended in the water. Lifelines are a sensible piece of safety equipment, if you do not believe me, try removing yours and the go out for a sail in any weather.
 
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