advise on lifelines

[orangebikemaker]

Hello.

I need to replace my life lines and I am considering Amsteel. Does anyone have any experiance with this? What size did you use? I am also interested to know if I will meet Catagory 1 regulations with spectra lifelines?

Cheers Mike Baker
1971 Pearson 33

[sailingdog]

The worries about spectra lifelines are chafe and UV-degradation. Spectra needs to have a UV protective covering IIRC, and needs chafe protection, which the stainless lifelines don't worry as much about... As for Category 1, you need to be a bit more specific... are you talking ORC Category 1 for racing??

[deanne]

We replaced our lifelines with 1/4" Amsteel two years ago. We discovered the stantion will bend without the Amsteel breaking - at least with the Captain's selvet 275 lb. torso as a test object.

The Amsteel comes with a protective coating. It still looks brand-new.

[orangebikemaker]

Sailingdog,

I would like to do Marion Bermuda, Annapolis Bermuda and perhaps other offshore races. I am on a two to three year timeline to get the boat ready. If I have to go with stainless for the race than so be it however; I like the idea of rope for lifelines.

Cheers Mike Baker

[sailingdog]

Mike-

Believe that Amsteel will pass ORC for lifelines... but you'd be best off checking with the guys running the race for their exact specs.

[paulk]

Rope is great for lifelines. If you use it, please spend fifteen minutes every time before you go out checking for chafe at each stanchion. If you have sails or sheets that rub against the lifelines when you're sailing, please inspect them every four tacks or jibes, or every 2 hours, whichever comes first. Please also carry sufficient extra line to replace worn, cut, or UV-damaged lifelines. Four or five sets should get you through a busy season, and provide the sailing class at the club plenty of line to learn their knots with. These are some of the reasons that the ORC requires wire.