Setting up Guardrail netting (for easy removal if possible)?

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NickHarley

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Need to make a few changes in case the rug-rat (currently 14 months) comes on-board this season. One of them is adding netting - ideally in such a way that it can be easily attached/removed.

Probably all obvious to those who've done it before... but wondered if anybody had any set-up tips? Things I'm wondering about include:

- Do I add (sew on?) a border rope to the netting for strength/ridgitity (& attachment system)? Shock cord or rigid rope?

- how can I attach it so its (relatively) easy to get on & off. I'd rather not thread guardrails through netting... can I use shockcord clips etc.? I don't have a toerail, so I need someway of holding it close to deck too (stop little hands lifting it to get underneath).

- erh.. how do I allow room for mooring lines etc. at certain points - just cut some of the netting, or just allow room underneath?

Any helpful advice appreciated!
Thanks.
 
My opinion based on two small ones 16 months apart: is personally I wouldnt bother. I did the netting thing on my boat for one season when the eldest was three. It was a pain to rig, looked awful, didn't last well, was expensive and was more likely to cause an accident than prevent one - especially climbing on/off tender.

Better off with a decent lifejacket, jackstays and a short and long (elasticated is good) harness line.

We found the kids prefered to be on our laps if underway or standing up below with their heads out the forehatch.
 
Nick

Had the same issue as you last year.

Buy the requisite length of netting and run a rigid bit of cord along the top guardwire, threading it as you go through each hole of the top of the net.

When you have done the top, I did the same at the bottom threading a cord through the holes of the toerail. If you don't have one you'll have to think of an altenate method - not sure what to advise.

For the fairleads, run the cord up to the first guardwire, lock off, and then back down to make a 'V'. Cut or gather the netting up. That way you have a suitable aperture for warps etc to run through.

You may wish to think about MOB options too, and how the netting hinders retrieval. We have a space where the dodgers go, which we would cut away in extremis.

Quite a time consuming job. Hope it goes well.

Nick
 
I'd agree - did it one season for 18 month old - forever catching / tripping in it. Came off for the winter race series (couldn't see how it was going to survice flyingthe kite).

Hasn't been back on since. We all survived last summer with lifejacktes and lifelines - so I hope SWIMBO won't even suggest it this year!
 
It's a PITA to do. When you look at it it looks so simple! I do it to keep our cats on board but it always comes of for the winter and usually ends up being replaced with new stuff the next season.
 
I had it on my last boat and will be rigging it soon on the new one. ( 1x3year old and 1x1 year old who regularly come to the boat) and I threaded the guardrail through last time but this time I will use a seperate length of line but fixed at each end and whipped (or something) to each stanchion. For the bottom used bungee cord (thick), pulled tight and cable-tied to the base of the stanchions (no toe-rail either). Then, provided the netting is tight, this creates an upwards curve between stanchions allowing lines to be passed under (making sure not high enough for child in lifejacket to get under!)
It does take some time to get it right but I think it is worth it. Kids still wear a harness and lifejacket but in no danger of falling overboard and being dragged along - which would be scary enough for me let alone them!
 
Suggest sprog is too young to benefit this season.

Don't try threading the guard rail through the netting - you'll end up in a mess. Been there.

If it has to be temporary I've seen some peeps use cable ties to attach the netting. You'll need to use loads. And loads more when you put it back.

Lacing it on is a days job - at least it is for me. You won't want to take it off. If you find a short cut let me know!

For peeps that don't let the kids on deck at sea I guess it's a waste of time. We do.
 
Hi Nick:

Have you considered not netting at all.
We have been there with our own Rug Rats donkeys years ago and over the last 8 years with the grandchildren.
Hindsight is wonderful and has taught me a few simple rules have been worth their weight in gold.

Below decks lifejackets/Buoyancy aids, not required.
In the cockpit Lifejackets On. (rough weather Lifelines on to hook points)
Leaving the cockpit for the decks, lifelines on to jackstays always.

Obviously when they were toddlers an adult would clip them on the jackstays.
We have had them cruising since before they could even crawl, the youngest grandson had his first couple of weeks cruse when he was less than 4 months old.

The real benefit is that as they have grown up (so far.. all 4 are between 5 and 8years old) Safety has become second nature for them and they don’t even question it, just kit up and get on with enjoying themselves or demand more jobs, and that is also so important, find them their own little jobs even if its just looking after the instrument covers for the youngest, it keeps them interested and makes them feel wanted and important especially when they progress to being in charge of their own fender, by the time they are 5 they will want to take the helm (supervised of course).

From us older farts point of view it’s just priceless to see them sail safely as second nature and so far no kids or major things have gone over board. Netting, for me… more trouble than its worth with kids.

Which ever way you chose have a great time with the kids and look forward to the day when they can become your winch monkeys.

……………Peter
 
Been there done that

I did it for 2 seasons and it was more hassle and caused more accidents than it prevented. PITA when climbing on/off the boat from tender.
Used to catch feet in it when going forward. And a real pain when mooring up alongside and taking lines.

As others have said - buy decent lifejackets for the little-uns and away yer go. To be honest I think the small ones are more sure footed onboard than the grown ups.
 
You can chain stitch netting to a rail, that way you only ever pass a bight through the net and round the rail, and it releases instantly by pulling the end.
Otherwise thread a bar or similar through the meshes at the top edge, and have the net big enough to bring over the rail and hitch the bar back onto the net in a couple of places.

Netting supplies here
 
To get the safty line through the netting you first set it up with light line then when you have the netting as you want it you detatch one end of the guard wire and thread it through then refasten it. sounds simple but it is a PITA.
 
Thanks to all for the very useful replies. SWMBO is keen on the netting, even with warnings about limitations, so will give it a go - & try & set it up so its not too much of a pain!

Next... I have orders to fit a child-gate to the forepeak, remove the saloon table for a travel cot, replace the headlining, remove anything 'grabable', clean & steralise the entire interior... perhaps I should just leave the rug-rat at home for the 1st few year!
 
How about a compromise - we just netted off the pushpit, combined with dodgers it made the cockpit a safe area. Any time daughter left the cockpit when she was a toddler, which was usually only when we were tied up, she was held by one of us or on a short safety line and harness. Unless said sprog is going clambering about the decks without supervision, netting the entire boat isn't necessary.
 
We've four boys 10,9,6 & 4 and didn't have any problems last year without netting. We've always insisted like others here that they put lifejackets on while on deck and if going out of the river to sea be clipped on too. We found that if the boat's at all healed the youngest two didn't really want to venture out of the cockpit anyway. Putting a cheap portable dvd player below decks was the biggest attraction / safety aid for our two youngest and peaceful sailing for rest of us :-) I did see on one thread here someone had a child car seat mounted against on the pushpit & using the harness in it...
 
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