Jackstays

[Aja]

Is it ok to attach jackstays to the toerail?

Donald

 

[Joe_Cole]

I hope so 'cos I do!

I do make sure that there is adequate chafe protection though as there are sharp edges to the holes in most aluminium toe rails.

Joe

 

[rogerroger]

Mine were attached that way when I bought mine - I've changed from the cable type to flat webbing ones and intend to connect them the same way...(mind you, I've yet to try pushing one of my 14 stone mates over board whilst attached to test them).

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[ccscott49]

Jackstays, should run down the centreline of the boat, to stop you falling over the side, if they are on the toerail, they will just let you fall over and get dragged along by the boat, with the danger of drowning you or beating you to death on the hull, placed in the middle of the boat, they have a tendency to keep you on board, especially if you fix them in the middle aswell as at each end. IMHO of course.

 

[Guest]

I agree - the object is to prevent you going overboard, not just to keep you attached if you do. And on the centreline or thereabouts is the best place for them - but how can you fix them in the middle as you suggest and still allow attached line to run freely from end to end?

 

[ccscott49]

Double hooked safety line, hook one on, take t'other off! I know it's a bit of a pain, but much safer. Mine are in sections anyway, due to make up of boat, so I do it all the time.

 

[Guest]

Thought so - I'm about to fit mine. Do you use wire or webbing?

 

[rogerroger]

Webbing ! My wire ones nearly caused me to go over board so many times due to them rolling under foot that to describe them as a "safety device" was a total joke.

I got two lenghts of webbing from Jimmy Green for about a fiver each - something line ten ton breaking strain and stitched them myself.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[ccscott49]

I use wire, but mine aren't on deck. If they are on deck, I agree, but I wouldnt trust my stitching for jackstays, they have huge strains put on the stopping a 12 stone man being thrown across the deck!

 

[Miker]

My yacht came with wire jackstays running from bow cleats to stern corner stanchion. I am thinking of changing the stays to webbing as it is a nuisance rolling under my feet. I would also think that anyone falling overboard would slide along the wire and end up under the prop. Does webbing allow the harness clip to slide along? If so, perhaps I should fit shortened jackstays just along the decks in front of the cockpit. Cost - less for webbing but purchase of additional U bolts.

 

[dickh]

Definitely use webbing - it doesn't roll underfoot if mounted on the side deck. Mine are on the side deck and the exact length so I shackle them to the U bolts fore and aft. As posted try Jimmy Green - he will sew loops each end - but only 2 tonne breaking strain, is the earlier post of 10 tonnes breaking strain correct? this does seem OTT. Yes, the Gibb type clips slide reasonable well along the webbing but can get caught up around shrouds etc. - my deck layout does not permit a clear run.

 

[claymore]

Agree with that - I have flat webbing ones attached to s/s ubolts along the coachroof. The underside (above the headlining has a big ply pad at each end.)
They are also very handy here as I don't have granny bars at the mast so I can attach myself if I need to when sorting out sails or rigging - I fell backwards once and ended up in a heap at the foot of the shrouds which I thought was far preferable to going over the side

regards
JohnS

 

[Aja]

A couple of points. My jackstays are shackled to an aluminium toerail. Will the toerail/deck/hull join have enough strength to hold a 12 stone person?(30' Jeanneau)?

The jackstays are led inside the shrouds, hopefully limiting the amount of 'give' if someone goes overboard.

This also raises the question of length of safety line. If as some of you have commented, you have the jackstays on the centre line, that may be ok on a larger boat, but for me with a beam of 10'4" and a safety line length of 3' and the amount of give, a person could still potentially go overboard.

 

[bedouin]

On many boats, mine included, running jackstays down the centre line is just not an option. It is very difficult to find attachment points, the sprayhood (when used) would make clipping on from the cockpit very difficult, and it would not be possible to install a single run from the bows to the cockpit because of the profile of the coachroof.

I take the view that if anyone is going to fall overboard then they'll do it on the leaward side, so IMHO clipping on the the windward jackstay is just as safe as a centre-mounted one.

 

[jimi]

Agree completely. You want to be able to clip the Jackstay from the cockpit and then move forward & do your stuff whilst holding on without having to pratt about unclipping & reclipping. When I've had to do that I've often ended up unclipped totally in the frenzy of the moment.

 

[alex_rogers]

Yeh, I was a bit worried about the stitching - I'd have thought a knot would be better. Climbers use flat webbing and have lots of knots which they trust falling onto.

 

[jimi]

Stitch Do\'nt Knot!

As a climber as well I can tell you I'd much rather trust stitched tape than knotted tape as 1) knots weaken the tape & 2) tape knots are prone to come undone. Do about 4 or 5 parallel two inches of stitching along the length with 2 lines each end to protect them. That should hold anything.

 

[alex_rogers]

Re: Stitch Do\'nt Knot!

I think I'd have more trust in my knot tying ability than me sewing ability.

 

[ccscott49]

You are not listening, the jackstays are to stop you going over the side, what use are they at the edge of the boat. The safety harness must allow you to stand up, so they must be at least 3 feet long and then allow you to get to the other side, before clipping on again, say another 5 feet, Useless! Run your jackstays down the centreline, think about it! IMHO, FWIW, etc.

 

[bedouin]

I wouldn't worry about the strength of the toerail - if that won't hold you nothing will.

Everyone is different, but in my opinion the most important aspect of jackstays is that I can clip on before leaving the cockpit and carry out all the work on deck without having to unclip/reclip. The most exposed part of any boat is the foredeck, and I can't imagine any feasible arrangement of jackstays and tethers that could stop you going overboard from the bows. Safety lines are a pretty standard 6ft - and I wouldn't want them any shorter otherwise the restriction in mobility could become a hazard in itself.