Netting on Guard Rails

Ruffles

Ruffles

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Joined
26 Feb 2004
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Boat: Portsmouth, Us: Stewkley
www.soulbury.demon.co.uk
We have young kids so have netting on our guard rails to keep them aboard. I fitted it four years ago when my daughter started walking so its on my list for replacement.

Anyway, it occurred to me to see how far gone it was. I found I could easily break the strands with my bare hands. My guess is it was probably dodgy last year - so safe life perhaps 2 years?
 
Mine have two seasons (beg. March - Mid november), machine washed once a year, and they are ready for their third one, a bit greyish but I could not notice any change in strength.
I take them off during wintering though.

fw
 
A tad worrying that they have rotted away so quickly. I wonder what material they are made from; halyards and so on don't rot that quickly!
 
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I take them off during wintering though.


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I don't take mine off - it was an awful job to fit them in the first place.

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agree /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

btw, by what means do you tie them to the rail and lifelines ?
I use cable ties, which of course are replaced every year, but was wondering if there is any other method which gives a better solution especially with mooring ropes...
 
My friends netting also went after about 3 years - so it looks like 2/3 years is the maximum. It's nylon isn't it?
 
I Bought netting from Fox's Chandlery and it lasted the five years I had the boat. It cost about £110 but was definitely the biz. And it stopped me , all 19 stone, rolling through the rails one late night so it was still pretty stong in the last year.

I secured it by threading 5mm cord through the toe rail and the netting the full length of the boat except round the deck cleats and fairleads. This has the advantage that when you get on and off the boat you are always standing on two pieces of cordage on the toe rail so you don't run the risk of slipping when wet.
 
Probably from a doubtful source. Material needs to be UV stabilized and the cheap stuff isnt. Buy from a leading brand to avoid trouble. There are tons of stuff from China out there which are totally crap. I bought a life buoy (Solas approved) made in China. The grab ropes literally pulverized within the year. As my grandfather said: " We are too poor to be able to afford cheap stuff". Guess your kids would agree.
 
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A tad worrying that they have rotted away so quickly. I wonder what material they are made from; halyards and so on don't rot that quickly!

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They all seem to be nylon, even from the expensive manufacturers, which I believe is less UV stable in sunlight. Also, since the string is thin I presume sunlight penetrates which can't help.

Anyone know an on-line supplier of polyester guard rail netting?
 
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, but was wondering if there is any other method which gives a better solution especially with mooring ropes...

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Lace it on with cord. Takes ages.... Have to attach it with clothes pegs to start with so you can get the length right.

BTW my son found my 50m reel of lacing line yesterday and unreeled the lot. I spent much of the evening untangling it from the balusters. Tike!
 
Looks so easy but is a right sod to do.I end up using light line to and bottom to get it right then thread the upper guadr wire through the top and then remove the top line. I have lacing hooks outboard on the wooden toe rail to keep the bottom down. I remove it each winter but agree that it lasts about 3 years.
 
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