New lifelines - DIY or pro?

[Mulberry4]

I checked my lifelines recently and foud the SS wire rope to be in uniform excellent condition, but the vinyl covering was cracked in many places and dirty/discolored. I am trying to rerplace the covering with a product called "cable covers" made by Davis Instruments, which I bought from West Marine. I have managed to install five 6 ft. lengths of cover, but the installation took me more than 10 hours! No doubt I have not found the right method to install these covers! Does anyone have suggestions or advice?

[zz4gta]

Don't cover them. And leave a 3.5 year old thread alone.
Covering stainless steel is bad.

[pdqaltair]

While I agree that coated ss is prone to failure due to rust under the cover (I have had bridle failures), I'm not certain a loose cover has any effect (it does not restrict oxygen). Any expereince out there? There are times when a loose cover helps a sheet or other rigging slide, and they are easier on the hands.

Again, a tight fitting cover is a different matter. That is not the question.

[hellosailor]

Mulberry, I think the cable covers are the sleeves we usually put on standing rigging to prevent the headsails from abrasion. I don't think they're intended as lifeline covers.

And yes, they can be a witch to install. You may find that heating then up with a hot air gun, or soaking them in hot water (PVC tube filled from a kettle?) makes them softer. Uusually you just try to get one end on and "slide" the rest down, using some kind of hook (bent nail or ice pick) if possible to pull it open ahead of the cable.

But if you are concerned about meathooks on the stainless lifelines, the rule of thumb is that if there is even one meathook--there are more internal failures and it is time to replace the cable.

FWIW.

[capnmac]

Gotta love that Cetol

[Brent Swain]

Go bare 1x19 and do it yourself. With your own ass at stake , you will probably do a better job than many pros . Better yet, go for stainless boiler tubing for the top rail ,30 inches above the decks.

[mxracer19]

The OP posted this in 2007. Im pretty sure he's found new lifelines.

[L124C]

Originally Posted by rhaley

FWIW, I believe the six people Jason is referring to will be rail meat while he is racing, so 24" works well when you are sitting down on the rail!

Yeah, but unless they are hanging off the low side (Rather counter productive IMO) they couldn't fall in unless they really tried!

[L124C]

Originally Posted by mxracer19

The OP posted this in 2007. Im pretty sure he's found new lifelines.

So what?....the topic and opinions expressed within the thread are still relevant.

[weephee]

My 35 year old boat has the original covered life lines. The covering is cracked and missing in places so it looks like hell. My intent was to remove the covering and just have the stainless showing. That way I would also be able to see if they needed replacement due to corrosion. Any negatives in doing this.