stanchions

[wpsalm]

Was in a bow to bow colishon with a fishing boat ...I was at anchor he reckons the sun was in his eyes ...anyway no stanchions left on the stb. side so removed the ones on the port side as well ... somehow the boat looks better without ..my question is what is the actual purpose of life lines and stanchions.....besides the obvious someplace to hang fenders from and is there any law about them..??

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gordonmc]

Not obligatory... and it could be argued they are dangerous as they give a false sense of security. In reality they are unlikely to stop a full grown adult from going over.
I know of several owners who have removed their guard wires as it makes life easier going forward... they rely on lifelines. When I bought my boat she had no pushpit/pullpit or guardwires. The Memsahib ordered me to fit them for the sake of the 8 year old.
Bah!













<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

I am surprised that they are not obligatory. Are you sure? In France they are. I would have thought with the categorizing of the safety zones that they would have been part of overall safety measures.


I have on a rare occasions been thankful for them. I have slipped and been prevented from going overboard. Even with a safety harness on it can be a real problem to get a person back on deck. They can also provide a steadying point when moving along the side decks and what are you going to lean back against when the boat is heeled?

John



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

Regulation

Oh please! Can't we just be grateful for what freedoms we do still have? In fact until last year there were no safety regulations for equipment on small yachts. But the adoption of SOLAS regulations in July last year have made carrying distress signals and a radar reflector more or less compulsory, which has lead to reports of some initial heavy handed policing by the MCA.

With passage planning, drink drive rules etc coming in, it seems that a floodgate of regulation is about to be opened which doubtless will include guard lines in due course.

Safety is essential, yes. But regulation and policing does not encourage safety-mindedness, rather a mind-set that supposes that its someone else's responsibility. Anyone would think that yachting is a high-risk sport, but it isn't.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

Re: Regulation

After about 20 years boating in French waters but not subject to their safety regulations I nevertheless appreciate their aim and have yet to see a provision which I don't think makes good sense. I agree that all is in the policing. I have never been questionned in those 20 years by the autorities although if I wanted to charter my boat ( if it were under a French Flag) I would have to have a prior safety inspection to make sure that everything works and the safety equipment is on board.

As for radar reflectors, I have twice been very close in fog and was damned glad I had one (in fact two). The last time was coming through the traffic lanes off Ushant with less than 50m visibility. He saw me before I saw him and used his fog horn although I could hear him without it.

John




<hr width=100% size=1>