Lifelines

[wgfischer]

Anyone ever use StasetX for lifelines instead of vynal covered wire?

[knothead]

You can use just about anything for lifelines but it''s hard to swage a terminal onto sta-set x.
Seriously though, there are a number of alternatives to vinyl coated 7x7 wire for lifelines. Many people opt for uncoated 1x19 wire and there are some synthetic materials available as well.

[paulk]

Any fiber lifeline is likely to have problems with chafe. Sta-set is cheaper than wire, but are you willing to check each lifeline along its entire length each time you go out and replace it if it is worn? (And carry the new extra lengths on board, in case you need them?) Your time & money is better spent with wire. Also note that the new ORC guidelines (rules?) call for wire WITHOUT any vinyl covering. (The vinyl covers possible problems and may help cause some degradation in the wire and attachments.)

[GordMay]

3/16" Stay-Set X POLYESTER has a breaking strength of 1600 Lbs (< 320# WLL) and about 2% stretch.
3/16" S/S 1x19 WIRE has a breaking strength of 4,700 Lbs & no appreciable stretch.
As noted above - how do you swage Poly''? I''ve done a lot of rigging, and cannot fathom how I''d properly install a taught & secure rope lifeline.
Why would you want to mess with basic LIFE SAFETY (they are called LIFE-lines)gear?
OMO
Gord

[pblais]

Practical Sailor has had some discussions about cordage used as lifelines. Brion Toss also has information on it too.

[jparker11]

Aside from the lower safety factors, you also are exposing a critical safety resource to Ultraviolet decay. It is hard to assess this rate of decay. But the decay of vinyl coated stainless wire can be measured in decades, while high modulus rope is months.

Unless you are willing to change the rope on a very abbreviated schedule I don''t think it is worth the design exercise or makes sense from a cost/benefit point of view.

[Nereus32]

I used a 3/4" three lay polyester line (easier to splice) to replace my nasty old vinyl covered wire lines. I have attached them w/o swages and devised a way to pull them VERY tight. They have a classic look that is much prettier than small vinyl lines. The only problem I see is they look dirty faster than wire. After a year, mine have turned dark. Time to take them off and wash them.

[Nereus32]

Plus, they are much easier on your back when you are leaning against them for any amount of time.

[928frenzy]

Seems to me that the stainless steel wire (vinyl coated or not) would be stronger and last longer than braided line. Moreover, the holes in the stanchions can only fit a certain sized line, or some other fastening method would have to be used, which probably wouldn''t look or work as nice.

Last year I replaced the worn-out 1/8" lifelines with 3/16" lines. I bought the hand swage tool and wire cutter along with the fittings and enough wire to do all top and bottom lines. As I recall, the total cost was about $200 for my 34.5'' boat, including the tools. My guess is that they''ll probably last ten years, maybe more.

~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~