Wire versus Rope Lifelines

The vinyl covered wire lifelines on my CAL 39 are about due for replacement. I have no experience with it (and haven't seen it either), but I've heard that low stretch line is a superior alternative to the vinyl covered wire. Anyone on the list have experience with this? How are the fittings done with the low stretch line? Bob Andrew CAL 39 Nereid Norwalk, CT

Be careful with the lifeline line and fitting connections. I know of one recent case during the fear regatta (which we took a first with a Cal 29) there was a J29 that was on a close hauled starboard tack coming up from Long Beach and now heading out the lower end of the LA entrance. The owner/helmsman was on the leeward side and did not realize that his two crew members who were hiked hard against the low stretch experienced a line/fitting failure and were suddenly ejected into the harbor. It took about 5 minutes to realize he had no crew and a total of 45 minutes to find and get them back aboard. Mark ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert Andrew To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 12:09 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Wire versus Rope Lifelines The vinyl covered wire lifelines on my CAL 39 are about due for replacement. I have no experience with it (and haven't seen it either), but I've heard that low stretch line is a superior alternative to the vinyl covered wire. Anyone on the list have experience with this? How are the fittings done with the low stretch line? Bob Andrew CAL 39 Nereid Norwalk, CT __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3895 (20090227) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

What about the discussion of how negligible the effect of hiking was, if, when the effect was instantly eliminated, he did not notice? Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: ma… [at] cox.net Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:48:58 -0800 Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Wire versus Rope Lifelines Be careful with the lifeline line and fitting connections. I know of one recent case during the fear regatta (which we took a first with a Cal 29) there was a J29 that was on a close hauled starboard tack coming up from Long Beach and now heading out the lower end of the LA entrance. The owner/helmsman was on the leeward side and did not realize that his two crew members who were hiked hard against the low stretch experienced a line/fitting failure and were suddenly ejected into the harbor. It took about 5 minutes to realize he had no crew and a total of 45 minutes to find and get them back aboard. Mark From: Robert Andrew To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 12:09 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Wire versus Rope Lifelines The vinyl covered wire lifelines on my CAL 39 are about due for replacement. I have no experience with it (and haven't seen it either), but I've heard that low stretch line is a superior alternative to the vinyl covered wire. Anyone on the list have experience with this? How are the fittings done with the low stretch line? Bob Andrew CAL 39 Nereid Norwalk, CT __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3895 (20090227) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

Lifelines are always a hot topic on the race course. Many boats try to use synthetic life lines. However, I have not seen anyone protested for using them in our area as of yet. The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations states life lines shall be uncoated stainless steel wire. Boats under 28 ft = 1/8 in and boats 28-43 ft = 5/32. US sailing recomendations for cruising boats are the same. I race on an Olson 30 with kevlar or amsteel life lines. Nobody has ever protested him and he passed inspection for the Nationals. The biggest problem I have experienced is slippage. I have gone down to the yard with my splice kit to splice the ends to the fittings but he won't do it. The stuff is slippery and when you tie off the ends, the knots slip. After every race he has to retie the lower life lines, cause of everyone hiking out hard. I am 200 lbs and it makes me nervous looking at the keel knowing this stuff is slipping with all the wieght on it. On the Fly Tiger, it has the back stay made of Amsteel, I spliced it on and we have not had any slippage yet. It has a cascading block system and measurements are important. If it slipped, you would lose purshase. The reason ISAF has gone to uncoated stainless steel is because it needs to breath. The coating causes it to trap water/moisture and corrode. You can put the loose vinyl stuff on, but you have to remove it every year to inspect it. My view! Randy CAL 2-29 Out Patient Channel Islands Ca --- On Sat, 2/28/09, Robert Andrew <rh… [at] cornell.edu> wrote: From: Robert Andrew <rh… [at] cornell.edu> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Wire versus Rope Lifelines To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 2:09 PM The vinyl covered wire lifelines on my CAL 39 are about due for replacement. I have no experience with it (and haven't seen it either), but I've heard that low stretch line is a superior alternative to the vinyl covered wire. Anyone on the list have experience with this? How are the fittings done with the low stretch line? Bob Andrew CAL 39 Nereid Norwalk, CT

My only heartburn with the size requirements is how smal the diameter is. 1/8" steel with plastic coating is much thicker than 1/8" uncoated anything. I envision a slicing hazard with small diameter stuff and harsh conditions. Yes, I know smaller diameter stuff weighs less and has less windage. However, there is little weight to be gained and significant potential comfort and safety to be gained by upsizing uncoated material on any but the most successful top end racers. this compares with the minimal incremental gains touted by shiny bottom aficionados. and proper splicing is the only way to go. Reggie To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: sa… [at] yahoo.com Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:50:33 -0800 Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Wire versus Rope Lifelines Lifelines are always a hot topic on the race course. Many boats try to use synthetic life lines. However, I have not seen anyone protested for using them in our area as of yet. The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations states life lines shall be uncoated stainless steel wire. Boats under 28 ft = 1/8 in and boats 28-43 ft = 5/32. US sailing recomendations for cruising boats are the same. I race on an Olson 30 with kevlar or amsteel life lines. Nobody has ever protested him and he passed inspection for the Nationals. The biggest problem I have experienced is slippage. I have gone down to the yard with my splice kit to splice the ends to the fittings but he won't do it. The stuff is slippery and when you tie off the ends, the knots slip. After every race he has to retie the lower life lines, cause of everyone hiking out hard. I am 200 lbs and it makes me nervous looking at the keel knowing this stuff is slipping with all the wieght on it. On the Fly Tiger, it has the back stay made of Amsteel, I spliced it on and we have not had any slippage yet. It has a cascading block system and measurements are important. If it slipped, you would lose purshase. The reason ISAF has gone to uncoated stainless steel is because it needs to breath. The coating causes it to trap water/moisture and corrode. You can put the loose vinyl stuff on, but you have to remove it every year to inspect it. My view! Randy CAL 2-29 Out Patient Channel Islands Ca --- On Sat, 2/28/09, Robert Andrew <rh… [at] cornell.edu> wrote: From: Robert Andrew <rh… [at] cornell.edu> Subject: [Cal_Boats] Wire versus Rope Lifelines To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 2:09 PM The vinyl covered wire lifelines on my CAL 39 are about due for replacement. I have no experience with it (and haven't seen it either), but I've heard that low stretch line is a superior alternative to the vinyl covered wire. Anyone on the list have experience with this? How are the fittings done with the low stretch line? Bob Andrew CAL 39 Nereid Norwalk, CT

The low stretch ropes have little to no UV resistance. On Melges 24's re replace the lifelines every year, due to sunburn as much any anything else. Procrastinating the replacement once lead to an early season unscheduled swim by yours truly, as well as the rest of the crew. Unlike a trusty Cal, a Melges does not keep sailing along when the (formerly hiking out) crew transitions to water-treading mode. Moral: Unless it's a One-Design class where everyone else is doing it, go with uncovered wire. It weights a tiny bit more, but you'll make up the difference by cleaning out the drawers in the head and galley. Mike Kennedy Jr. --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Robert Andrew <rha9@...> wrote: > > The vinyl covered wire lifelines on my CAL 39 are about due for > replacement. I have no experience with it (and haven't seen it > either), but I've heard that low stretch line is a superior > alternative to the vinyl covered wire. Anyone on the list have > experience with this? How are the fittings done with the low stretch > line? > > Bob Andrew > CAL 39 Nereid > Norwalk, CT >