[argalax]

The white coating shows signs of rusting lifelines underneath. See attached pictures.
What can be done?

 

[paul323]

Some rusting is inevitable, and does not indicate imminent failure. If you look at your stays, they often show rush stains at the turnbuckle fittings within a year of being replaced. Your lifelines look very typical of ones that have been installed for a few years. They don't look to bad from the photos.

In general: Carefully inspect carefully the connectors. As you may know, they are secured to the wire using mechanical compression. If any of the end connectors are cracked, you should replace the lifelines.

The next question is your sailing style. Are you a hardened offshore sailor, or a weekend warrior? If you are going offshore, or expect heavy weather, you may want to get the lifelines professionally inspected - and probably replaced. If your sailing activity is mainly daysailing or the occasional cruise, they will probably be safe for many years to come.

Of course, if you are a racer they need to be replaced anyway as plastic-covered lifelines are not allowed - as you have discovered the plastic prevents you from inspecting the lines.

 

[jsaronson]

Replace them!

 

[Faster]

Many replace lifelines now with line - spliced Dyneema typically. Not hard to do, plenty of threads on the subject. No more rust - cosmetic or otherwise...

 

[PaulinVictoria]

I had the same thing, to the point where one of the fittings failed (rarely the actual wire that gives way from what I can see). I replaced with synthetics because the fittings were on clearance, had they not have been, I was going to go with uncoated stainless rope.

Went from this:

to this:

Pretty straightforward job once you get going, and the single-braid stuff is very easy to splice. HTH, but basically, your lifelines are shot, time for new ones.

 

[knuterikt]

The white coating shows signs of rusting lifelines underneath. See attached pictures.
What can be done?

Remove the cover, inspect the wire (What is the age of this wire?)
Replace with new wire or Dyneema if necessary.

 

[celenoglu]

Replace them. Use either uncoated wire or syntethics.

 

[capt jgwinks]

If rust is bleeding through the vinyl, they're probably done. Mine were doing that, and when I started peeling the cover off, the wire fell apart in my hands. I replaced them with uncoated 3/16" 1x19 wire. Looks much better and won't corrode from trapped water. Don't know how we ever got started using that coated wire in the first place. It's just a bad idea.

 

[smackdaddy]

Replace them.

 

[cthoops]

Ours look similar and we will likely replace them at some point, but based on the kind of sailing we are currently doing they are lower on the priority list than replacing the standing and running rigging.

If we were cruising, we'd definitely replace them.

 

[Gladrags1]

The vinyl hides rust inside since it also holds moisture. When the stainless is kept way from air it also tends to rust and weaken. They are called lifelines for a reason. Change them to uncovered wire. Otherwise you might get an early swim and the meat hooks on the broken strands will scratch you as you pass through.

Just saying...

Tod


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jrd22]

Easiest way to replace them is to PM Knothead (I think he is still around?) here on SN, send him your old lifelines in a USPS flat rate box and he'll send you new ones. Top notch quality and reasonable price, and a nice guy to deal with.

 

[argalax]

Thanks for the replies.
Aside from replacing the lines, I am thinking just striping the covering and leaving the bare wire. Are there reasons against this?

 

[mitiempo]

Thanks for the replies.
Aside from replacing the lines, I am thinking just striping the covering and leaving the bare wire. Are there reasons against this?

Yes. With rust showing the condition of the wire inside is very suspect. Don't waste the energy to strip the covering. Replace them.

 

[Minnewaska]

I'm within an inch of doing this job myself. If you remove all the lines and hardware, I assume there is a good place one can send them to have them re-fabricated. Other than making the compression fittings, most of this job is DIY. Definitely lose the vinyl cover next time. I will.

Someone must have a good recommendation.

 

[Stumble]

It's been beaten to death in other threads, but get rid of the wire, switch to dyneema, and save a bunch of money.

 

[argalax]

Re: " switch to dyneema?:
It is probably more superior to SS (?), but it looks like a plain rope...

 

[mitiempo]

...switch to dyneema?.....but it looks like a plain rope...

It's not. Variations are used to replace stainless stays and shrouds. Tough stuff.

 

[Scotty C-M]

Replace.

I went with the uncoated stainless. I think it should last longer. Dynema has an issue with chafe. I based this decision on my own intuition. I would love to hear of any data or research that addresses this issue.

 

[Stumble]

Replace.

I went with the uncoated stainless. I think it should last longer. Dynema has an issue with chafe. I based this decision on my own intuition. I would love to hear of any data or research that addresses this issue.

http://www.ussailing.org/wp-content...yneema Spectra Lifeline Revision Jan 2014.pdf