Jackstays - lifespan thereof

[Twister_Ken]

If the artificial fibres used in our sails are degraded by UV, is the same true of the stuff used in webbing for jackstays? And if jackstays are biodegradeable, for how many UK sailing seasons should we expect them to retain sufficient strength to keep a body aboard in the event of an incident?

PS - mine are 2 1/2 seasons old, and are taken off in the winter.

 

[Aja]

Replaced mine last season. Previous ones were 5 years old with signs of fading (blue webbing). Removed for six months also.

Regards

Donald

 

[Magic_Sailor]

This might be a fiendish ploy by jack stay manufacturers to get us to buy more.

My gut feel is that yours would still have plenty of life - especially as you remove them for part of the year. I have seen some which have faded to almost white and gone a bit furry - I wouldn't want that. Providing they still look healthy (good colour etc) I'd think they're OK.

I wouldn't think there's any data available.

Magic

 

[nicho]

Ken,

I have been given to understand (I believe from postings on this forum) that the webbing type of jackstay should be changed "regularly" due to UV erosion. On the face of it they look fine, but can become seriously weakened. I do not remember how often the change should be made, though it was also suggested they should be taken off the boat during the Winter lay up to reduce the problem.

I've had jackstays fitted to my new boat, but Bavaria fit substantial stainless steel wire ones, PVC coated.

 

[Skyva_2]

I'm replacing mine after 4 years - they have faded, but otherwise look OK. But at £20 for new webbing, why take the risk? Fortunately SWMBO is a dab hand with a heavy duty sewing machine. The old webbing makes good sail ties.

Apparently climbers replace strops every year, but I guess they are forever dependent (excuse pun) on them.

Careful with the wire ones, Nicho, they are very strong but can can roll underfoot.

Regards,
Keith

 

[webcraft]

I don't think the colour of old webbing is a good guide to the strength - I've seen some very colourful Dacron with all the strength of wet tissue paper . . .

In microlighting UV degradation of dacron has been recognised as a problem for many years, and as part of the annual inspection a special spring-loaded needle is inserted into the wind at strategic points and pulled - it has to sustain a certain tension without ripping the fabric for the wing to pass.

I also worry about the use of detergents, deck cleaners etc on webbing.

Surely some equivalent test for webbing could be devised - or, why not keep a spare foot of webbing for test purposes and try to leave it exposed for an equivalent amount of time?

Also - I suspect we might find more infor on this on climbing forums - they have much more experience of trusting their life to webbing, and depend on it to sustain greater shockloads safely than we are ever likely to.

<font color=blue>Nick</font color=blue>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com>

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[bedouin]

All the regulations / advice suggest that all the elements of your harness, line and jackstays should have a minimum breaking strain of 2000kg (IIRC) - substantially higher than you might have thought (this was highlighted as the cause of at least one death in the Sydney-Hobart). I'm sure my jackstays don't conform to that one!

Most webbing jackstays are polyester, and so suffer UV degradation in the same way that exposed sails do - I think this might be as much as 50% in the first year, but I can't recall where I got that figure from.

My guess is that any polyester jackstays that have been on the boat continually for two seasons would not now satisfy the 2000kg figure

 

[dickh]

I've just ordered new ones from Jimmy Green Marine, I have had the boat for 5 years and they weren't new then, I estimate they must be at least 10 years old. They had certaintly faded considerably(originally striped) and threads had started to snag & pull out.
The new ones are having snapshackles fitted at each end so I can quickly stow them when not in use - I'm hoping this will make them last much longer.
The old ones I'm hoping to get tested to destruction by one of the posters on this forum to test both the loop and the webbing strength.
It will be interesting to see the result and will post them on the forum.


dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Miker]

Agree about the wire ones. I am replacing mine with webbing as I seem to be in more danger of falling overboard by treading on the jackstays than from a rogue wave.

 

[david_e]

These are on my list of safety equipment to buy, are there any things to look out for? What differentiates a good set from a not so good set?

 

[Twister_Ken]

>What differentiates a good set from a not so good set?<

UV resistance!!!!

 

[nicho]

Yep, and in fairness, Opal Marine did point that danger out. From the ones I've seen fitted to Bavs, (and have stood on deliberately to see if they are a hazard), to be honest they seem OK, and do not roll under the foot. I'll keep an eye on it though - thanks for the tip

 

[Guest]

Just take them off and stow below when their not required. Like putting a sailcoat on the main... That way, with a little effort they'll last well. Fitting and removing jackstays is just a rigging chore, like rigging sheets and guys etc.

 

[Robin]

My sailmaker who could supply either wire or webbing will not supply the webbing ones because of UV degradation of a piece of kit that when needed does not need to be in doubt. He made me a replacement set in wire which fit closely around the coachroof out of the way. I saw an idea on one of the forums for putting the wire inside tubular webbing, I gather this is pricey, but could be done just on the foredeck or where it could roll underfoot. I did look around our marina and saw a few webbing jackstays that I wouldn't even trust as sail ties.

 

[pvb]

Good point - stresses are huge...

The strength issue is a good point to raise. Because jackstays are usually set up fairly taut, the stresses involved if someone's weight falls on them are absolutely huge (think of the geometry).

 

[Guest]

Mmm,

Worries me too, especially as I'm a bit heavier post Xmas. I use webbing and rig them for each sail, stowed out of the sun when tied up. I once heard one bloke tell me he had his tested each year by specialists. Still think it is more likely that we will fail to clip on than the stays will fail us!

 

[deckham]

I think the best practice with webbing jackstays is to take them off after every trip. That is what good sailing schools seem to do. Webbing does degrade. I stepped on to a JEANNEAU for a weekend`s sailing a few years back. They had webbing along the guardrails aft where the mainsheet would have rubbed. As I stepped, I slipped and accidentally `sat` on it. It broke, even though it looked in good condition. I don`t know who was most embarrassed, ( the skipper, who had an excellent reputation) or myself. I only weigh 12 stone! The webbing was a similar size to webbing jackstays.

 

[Guest]

Mine are made by C&J Marine. They provide a disclaimer which states that the webbing and thread are uv stable but then goes on to say that their life expectancy is 12 - 18 months.

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: tubular webbing

I was thinking of using wire in an old flat webbing garden hoze.

 

[Robin]

Re: tubular webbing

Real PBO stuff! Good idea