This is one of those projects you can do yourself and save as well as have adjustments. I do this myself. If you intend on keeping boats for 20 years or being in them I would learn to do this.
Dennema- lasts 5-7 years, affected by UV and sharp objects. Coated and uncoated lines 7X7 3?16. Coated - no meathooks to shred a jib or someones hands. Uncoated. now ater bertween casuing and wire. Wire can be easily tightened by using the proper fittings
I use coated. I boaugt a cheap swage tool at Home Depot which does the same job as a 250 dollar one from Grainger
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=wire%20swage%20tool&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search+All...$20
7X7 coated wire...shop on line and go to west marine they should match other wise buy online. You need ap[prox 150 ft at the most = $150
Search Results for*wire swage tool*at The Home Depot
Fittings are the big expense- I use Johnson
HAND swage
Draw a diagram.
I used the following
From the bow to wire to the first gate stanchion ( I have gates on both sidesTubular Turnbuckle
Jaw to Hand Crimp Terminal - Check Nut Locking This barrel turnbuckle allows for tensioning when the wire stretches over time
Other side of wire on the other side of stanchion where the gate is
17
LIFE LINE FITTINGS | Regular Duty / Hand Crimp
# Not a true 1/8" terminal (3/16" terminal with sleeve).
Swivel, Interlocking Gate Eye
An interlocking gate eye is used at the opposite end of
the gate hook as a "hinge" for the gate.
Wire from interlocking gate fitting to close gate finished with ( you can buy more expensive)
Tubular Gate Hook- T316
Inexpensive, slender tubular design with a stamped hook.
43⁄4" long from end of body to inside bearing point of hook.
Aft gate stanchion then has a single eye the gate hook attaches to- the gate eyes fitting goes theough the stanchion holes or eyes.
Swivel, Single Gate Eye
A single eye is used on one end of the gate area to attach the gate
Final fitting attached to aft tube sturcture is again an adjustable barrel as in the first one
Tubular Turnbuckle
Jaw to Hand Crimp Terminal - Check Nut Locking
Our most popular life line turnbuckle. Check nut locking. T-316 stainless.
You can figure out the rear ladder gate now.
Here are the pictures and discriptions of the fittings
Johnson Marine Product Detail
Again look on line and get the best price and take to west marine they will match them and carry the JOhnson hand swage fittings''
404 Not Found 4X $25=$100
Johnson Hand-Crimp Tubular Gate Hook - Stainless Steel - Hand-Crimp Lifeline Fittings - Lifeline Hardware - Rigging, Spar & Lifeline Hdwr - Downwind Marine 2 gates = 2X$28 = $56
Johnson Hand-Crimp Lifeline Gate Eye - Threaded - Single - Hand-Crimp Lifeline Fittings - Lifeline Hardware - Rigging, Spar & Lifeline Hdwr - Downwind Marine 2 gates - 2X$21=$42
Johnson Hand-Crimp Lifeline Gate Eyes - Threaded - Interlocking - Hand-Crimp Lifeline Fittings - Lifeline Hardware - Rigging, Spar & Lifeline Hdwr - Downwind Marine 2X$39= $59
Stern Gate
Johnson Hand-Crimp Lifeline Toggle Jaw - T Style - Hand-Crimp Lifeline Fittings - Lifeline Hardware - Rigging, Spar & Lifeline Hdwr - Downwind Marine $17
Johnson Hand-Crimp Tubular Gate Hook - Stainless Steel - Hand-Crimp Lifeline Fittings - Lifeline Hardware - Rigging, Spar & Lifeline Hdwr - Downwind Marine $28
Total price in Fittings with two gates = $302 One gate=$250
Total price 2 gates = $250 +$20+$150 = $420
It will take you about 6 hours to do and you have nice
ADJUSTABLE first class lifelines and you have a skill, which when you cruise is invaluable as you will want to take some lifeline with you. BTW do not use this tool to swage any standing rigging. They should be machine done
Feel free to PM or contact me for more info
Dave