What tension on life-lines is desirable?

[coopec]

I'm installing lifelines on the yacht and wondering what would be a reasonable tension.

The distance between stanchions is about 6 feet. If I put a 1lb weigh midway between stanchions and the wire rope deflected 1 inch downwards would that be about right?

I'm using wire rope thimbles and ss wire rope grip (duplex) clamp rather SS ferrules as I'm not too sure I have the right gear for crimping nor do I have confidence in my own ability to crimp properly. Does anyone have a problem with the use of ss duplec wire rope clamps in this situation?

 

[Wansworth]

Seems a long span between stanchions,include quick release gizmo at one end

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Does anyone have a problem with the use of ss duplec wire rope clamps in this situation?

They will catch on sails.

 

[vyv_cox]

My guardwires have Sta-Lok fittings, bottle screw on one end of the upper wire, not on the lowers. The practical limit is that a bottlescrew is strong enough to bend the stanchions, so I tighten to just less than that.

 

[Roberto]

From the Offshore Safety Regulations


[corr. "Special" Regs]

As a guide, when a deflecting force of 50 N (5.1 kgf, 11.2 lbf) is applied to a lifeline midway between supports, the lifeline should not deflect more than 50 mm.

 

[coopec]

They will catch on sails.

I know I did discuss that problem with the sail-maker many moons ago and he said the bottom of the sails on a Roberts Mauritius 43 were well above deck level. Photos I have just looked at now would seem to confirm that statement.

 

[coopec]

My guardwires have Sta-Lok fittings, bottle screw on one end of the upper wire, not on the lowers. The practical limit is that a bottlescrew is strong enough to bend the stanchions, so I tighten to just less than that.

OK! I've got the message. (They have to be tensioned right up)

The Pushpit (and Pullpit) are very well anchored to the deck. I have a gangway Port and Starboard where the stanchions are braced so I shouldn't have any problems tensioning the wire rope right up..

 

[KevinV]

Even if they don't catch on the sails, and they are actually strong enough, those clamps are a terribly ugly solution on such a handsome boat - in my opinion.

 

[Wansworth]

Even if they don't catch on the sails, and they are actually strong enough, those clamps are a terribly ugly solution on such a handsome boat - in my opinion.

Can be neatly taped up

 

[coopec]

Even if they don't catch on the sails, and they are actually strong enough, those clamps are a terribly ugly solution on such a handsome boat - in my opinion.

I know what you are saying but they are fairly small. I've tried to find the actual size but have had not luck. I'm quite sure two of them would fit in a matchbox

FOUND IT!!

(Mine are M5)

But as far as I am concerned safety is far more important than good looks (Nice to have both though)

 

[lustyd]

It'll depend a lot on the boat, and how droopy you want your fenders. On my old boat the wires passed through straight stanchions which were held down with three screws. If overtightened, this would have ripped the stanchion out of the deck due to the curve of the boat hull, and for the same reason they were very much guard wires not life lines. On my current boat the stanchions hook under the toerail and attach with two inboard screws. With this setup, the wire tightens and holds the stanchion inwards allowing for greater tension. This means I can yank against them when climbing up from a pontoon without worry, and also means they would be less unsafe if I fell against them at sea. Still not a lifeline. Finally, my friend has a fancy carbon race yacht. His stanchions extend several inches into the deck and have diagonal braces also made of titanium. These are married to very tight wires since the stanchions won't bend or break, and mean that they almost certainly will take a human weight falling on them from a height. We still use the jackstays as the safety though, not the guard wires.

 

[LadyInBed]

What are you using as a quick release?
The Stalok solution is good.
Stainless Steel Pelican Hook with Life Line Stud - Sta Lok

 

[geem]

We consider our guardwires a primary safety device. We have them adjusted with bottlescrews so they are bar tight. This way you can confidently rely on them as a strong handhold when working on the foredeck rigging a spinnaker poles, etc. We don't have a gate in the guardwires. It was a conscious decision as you can't tension the wires with the same force. Our stanchions are super robust. Bolted through the very strong aluminium toerail with three M8 bolts. Solid aluminium stanchions. The stanchions are about 5 ft apart. You could fall on them and be totally certain you won't crash through them

 

[fredrussell]

Coopec, just out of interest how high above deck level have you opted for top guard wire (life line) height? I ask because I’ve often thought that if I was building my own blue water boat I would design the top wire to be above waist height by as much as possible. On my boat top wire is half way up my thigh or thereabouts and doesn’t inspire confidence. I realise that higher than normal guard wires will interfere with head sail(s) foot, therein lies the problem I suppose.

 

[geem]

Coopec, just out of interest how high above deck level have you opted for top guard wire (life line) height? I ask because I’ve often thought that if I was building my own blue water boat I would design the top wire to be above waist height by as much as possible. On my boat top wire is half way up my thigh or thereabouts and doesn’t inspire confidence. I realise that higher than normal guard wires will interfere with head sail(s) foot, therein lies the problem I suppose.

We had to have our stanchions custom made when we replaced the toerail as all modern boats use shorter stanchions as standard.

 

[Martin_J]

From the Offshore Special Regulations...



Don't they summarise that easier in Bermuda by saying "Hang a six pack of tinnies on the top wire and it shouldn't deflect more than an inch".

 

[PetiteFleur]

Instead of bottle screws I have a short lanyard near the pushpit, so very easy to cut it if necessary. And you can tighten it if necessary.

 

[Refueler]

At bow - my guardlines are fixed by small neat shackles. At stern pushpit - they are fastened by lanyards with as many loops of lanyard as the guardline eye can take and are hand tight.
The length of lines then is not critical and any rigger can then crimp eyes .......

The Offshore Special Regs are specific to Ocean Racing ... I have a Copy having been involved ! For cruisers many of the OSR are OTT. OSR does not allow Parafil or coated guardlines ... which many cruisers have.
I suggest that its good enough to have lines as tight as you can do by hand. No need to 'stretch' them. But no slack.

 

[coopec]

What are you using as a quick release?
The Stalok solution is good.
Stainless Steel Pelican Hook with Life Line Stud - Sta Lok

I have the Staylock quick releases on the access above the transom ladder and on the Port and Starboard gangways

 

[coopec]

Coopec, just out of interest how high above deck level have you opted for top guard wire (life line) height? I ask because I’ve often thought that if I was building my own blue water boat I would design the top wire to be above waist height by as much as possible. On my boat top wire is half way up my thigh or thereabouts and doesn’t inspire confidence. I realise that higher than normal guard wires will interfere with head sail(s) foot, therein lies the problem I suppose.

My stanchions are 3ft high so the top safety wire is very close to that.

I agree with you that a 600mm (2ft) stanchion is just high enough to trip you up and send you overboard. (I plan to install netting as well)