Why guardwires?

[ANDY_W]

This isn't a wind up!

I am refurbishing a 25 ft yacht. The stanchions and bases are knackered and the fibreglass underneath the bases is cracked.

Obviously I've got to repair the fibreglass but it occurred to me that replacing the stanchions and wires is possibly a waste of time.

After all, they are too weak to take any kind of force, too low to really stop one falling overboard, restrict narrow side decks, often interfere with the foresail sheets and are usually the first thing to be damaged in any collision ( without the benefit of absorbing the impact ).

In fact, the only useful function they serve is somewhere from which to hang the fenders.

I sail solo, so have no children or cack-handed crew to keep inboard.

Can anyone give me a good reason to replace them?

 

[William_H]

I agree. I did go to a lot of trouble to fit wires around my boat (21ft.) My biggest problem is that I tended to knock the stanchions when arriving at a jetty. They had to lean out somewhat to permit enough room on the side decks. and of course the difficulty of getting on board from a dinghy.
I think that grab rails on the cabin top are far more valuable for support. And of course a harness and tether if it is rough or you are single handed.

I sailed recently on a 23ft Hood which has a flush deck. ie cabin top to the gunwhale on front half of boat. It was creepy going forward with nothing to hold onto except guard wires which were too low. I used to think flush deck was great until I realsed the comfort of cabin top grab rail at a reasonable height.
A wrap around (partially wrap around) push pit is nice to have as something to lean on and I suppose gives some feeling of safety when seated in the cockpit. Mine extends forward about half the length of the cockpit. Although it does get in the way when sitting up on the gunwhale trying to balance the boat in a blow. We don't have or need dodgers here in West Oz. I or another crew sit on the gunwhale next to the cabin window which of course would be impssible or difficult with guard wires. I do run a wire each side from the pullpit down to the deck 1.5 m back to provide a kind of guard wire to stop the jib falling overboard when it is down on spin run.

So we will get a lot of cries on this forum from, those who claim they -provide safety and on a bigger boat they are usefull. However I find on a small boat that is light weight and tender that you are better off without guard wires. Despite the fact that ocean racing rules require them.

Are you trying to stir up a hornets nest? olewill

 

[Guest]

In fact it is not daft to do away with them ... sensible moving around a boat and they are not required.

Mention of fenders hanging of them - this is a pet hate of mine. OK when coming into strange berth, as you can slide along wire to best position when initially coming in .... but once tied up - get them fast to amore secure point - don't leave tied to guardwires.

Stanchion bases on small boats are a pain - they are always leading to cracked gel-coat and laminate due to being pushed by "helping-hands" jetty's / other boats that are higher etc.

If you are comfortable without - then go for it.

 

[Salty John]

I agree with the others - life lines less than about 30" high can do more harm than good. I had a 26' boat with no wires for several years - never lost anyone overboard. I do think a raised toe rail is a good idea - it gives your foot some purchase when heeled and it means that when you drop something, the winch handle is a favourite, it doesn't automatically go overboard.

 

[Mirelle]

Best without?

Just come back from a weekend on our heavy old gaff cutter, with boys of 4 and 11, mother busy ashore ("galley duty" at dinghy club!) and no guard wires.

Took them off some years ago, as I could not stop the bases from being pulled on an starting leaks. With one exception, we have not missed them, despite sailing with new baby/toddler/active four year old, who was brought up that when he goes on deck he wears a lifejacket and harness and is clipped on.

Moving round the boat at sea is no different, and life at anchor or alongside is much easier. The one exception is when fitting out, ashore, when it seems an awful long way down onto the concrete hard standing!

 

[richardandtracy]

Re: Best without?

I agree, if you don't have a rail or wire at a useful height, do without. I've always thought low wires are more of a danger than a help, and can be a wretched nuisance when trying to climb aboard after an accidental swim - too low to crawl under & too weak to hang on to properly.

All said & done, knowing how clumsy I am, I prefer rails, and fitted a decent strength rigid rail (75 x 6mm flat steel bar) at 36" all round my boat when I had it . Stuff the looks, I wanted to be safe however stupid I was.

Regards

Richard.

 

[jbweston]

Re: Best without?

I sail my Sadler 34 by myself most of the time.

Guardwires fulfil two useful purposes, I think, apart from being a place to hang fenders and the cockpit dodgers.

1. They provide a psychological safety barrier marking the edge of the ship - a bit like having a fence in your front garden, even though you know burglars can climb over it or even come through the front gate.

2. They provide an actual reminder that you've got to the edge of the boat by bumping you in the leg, particularly when you are walking backwards trying to untangle a flag halliard from the shrouds or working out why the wind transducer is pointing in a strange direction.

I suppose you could say (1) I shouldn't need psychological comfort and (2) I shouldn't be walking backwards but (1) it helps and (2) I do walk backwards, even if it's a stupid thing to do!

So I won't be ripping my guardwires out. Whether I'd fit them if I hadn't already got them, I don't know.

 

[ANDY_W]

Re: Best without?

Many thanks for all the replies-at least I'm not a lone voice in the wilderness!

I've never had a boat big enough to walk backwards and forget where the edge is!

So, no guard wires and fit a teak capping on top of the moulding that runs along the edge of the deck.Sounds like a good plan.