Jackstay anchor points

[chrisswift18]

I need to fit Jack Stays to my Swift 18 trailor sailor. I was hoping to attach the Jack Stays to the Toe rail front and back.

So my question is, what is the view of the forum as to the suitability of using the Toe Rail for attaching the Jack Stays? Is the toe rail strong enough?

Cheers

Chris

 

[Norman_E]

It all depends how your toe rail is fitted. If it is a substantial aluminium angle, bolted through the hull to deck joint at close intervals it will almost certainly be stronger than than you could achieve by fitting pad eyes or U bolts through the deck. Using the toe rail will also avoid having to drill through the deck, and ensure that the holes have been properly sealed.
To my mind the main point against using the toe rails to attach both ends of the jackstays is that it puts them right at the rail, whereas in a small boat it would feel much safer to be able to clip on to jackstays running as close to the centre line of the boat as possible.

 

[bobgoode]

A friend has a swift 18, stick the jackstays on the toe rail using good size "D" shackles. There are so many bolts holding the toe rail down it is more than strong enough.

 

[jwilson]

When i sailed a similar sized boat single-handed I eventually started to use a single eight foot (approx) line secured round the mast base. It would let me get anywhere on deck, and if I did go overboard I'd have ended up level with the cockpit (where the lowish freeboard and reachable genoa sheet and side cleats gave me something to climb back aboard with. (I did deliberately test climbing back aboard once - managed it just). A conventional jackstay setup could have you trailing along behind the boat. What's appropriate on a bigger boat is not necessarily right on a18-footer.

Mind you this safety line was set up only after several years fairly extensive cruising with no line, no harness, no lifejacket and no guardwires etc. No liferaft, no lifebuoy, no VHF either. But I did have 3 anchors and a lot of chain and warp.

 

[reginaldon]

I sail a 19' Caprice no guardwires, I've fitted a jackstay from the mast to the forward cleat, I think that plus a couple of existing U bolts either side of the cockpit should be adequate & I've just bought another LJ, this with harness - not planning to go overboard.

 

[geoffatstanpit]

The same principle works well on my Parker 21 - I just hook on to the main or jib halyard at the mast and I can get most places on deck. If I'm just taking in a reef I can reach the tack while hooked on to the loops by the companionway.

On the other hand - the only time I've ever fallen off a boat was when I tripped on the harness line so I reckon that great care is a better than a harness in most cases.

 

[Stork_III]

Replace toe rail bolt with eye bolt and fix jackstays via D shackles to that. Kinder on the toe rail.