lifeline netting for lee clothes

zz4gta · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2010

I bought some lifeline netting and am having a little bit of an issue trying to use it as a lee cloth. I decided to use the netting instead of canvas b/c the boat tends to be a little wet, especially if we need to douse in the companionway.

I've bought some eye straps, hardware, snap hooks, shock cord, and lashing line, but I can't seem to get the netting to look good when it's in place. Keeping equal tension across my lee cloth isn't hapening. If I pull one corner, it distorts and looks like crap.

Any suggestions?

JohnRPollard · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2010

ZZ,

My experience with lifeline netting suggests it will not make a good material for leeclothes. Having strung it along sidedecks, it is very frustrating getting it to tension up evenly without sags/wrinkles. Whereas, with leeclothes, a very tight, snug fit is important.

Our leeclothes are made from tweed sunbrella. If you are looking for a material that is more permeable and less prone to absorbing moisture, I would suggest a dense mesh (maybe what they're using now for side-curtains on a lot of biminis?) Sailrite should have something suitable.

PalmettoSailor · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2010

Gearin' up for DTB?

KeelHaulin · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2010

Waterproof the sunbrella and then drape/clip it across the bedding when you are dousing a sail. That way the bunk will remain dry and you can wipe down any water that got on the outer side of the lee cloth.

JMHO for the situation you describe (I have not done this).

zz4gta · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

Gearin' up for DTB?

You got it! 123nm race with 5 crew, we'll need some sleeping space. Hopefully they won't bring too much gear. Now if my foam would arrive for cushions I'd be set....

PalmettoSailor · #6 (**permalink**) 05-16-2010

Good luck, still don't know if I'll be there this year. My boat is registered and the owner has twice informally asked if I was interested, but I haven't got an official invite yet. Might be that the owner has enough of his regular crew to make the race and doesn't need me.

It really probably better I don't go anyway as my best friend is having his 50th BD on Sunday that weekend, and has just learned he has cancer, so wants to have a big blowout before his surgery and radiation treatment.
Whether I do the race or not I will be at his BD party, but the logistics will be a challenge if I do the race.

Good luck to you guys, it'll be a blast.

tomwatt · #7 (**permalink**) 05-16-2010

You might look at the mesh material that sports bags are made of. Like the kind of mesh netting that softball/soccer teams use to carry team equipment in. It's fairly stable dimensionally, but with a little give still.
Color choices might be a little limited (if that matters), I've seen black, blue and red, and that's about it.