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Lifeline Guide
When ordering conventional vinyl coated or uncoated stainless steel lifelines from a rigging shop or hand swaging your own lifelines, accurate measurement is important because once the swages are done you are stuck with the results. Mistakes are very expensive.
High Tech Line lifelines are more forgiving as splicing can be redone and fittings do not have to be discarded if mistakes are made.
The purpose of this guide is to explain the basic measurements you will need to choose the lifeline length option in our kits. You will need to make accurate measurements when you splice your lifelines or order spliced lines, but rough measurements are sufficient to place your kit order. Instructions describing how to install your lifelines are included with the kit.
Lifeline Configurations
Lifelines fall into 4 configurations.
1. No Gate Lifeline.
This lifeline has no gates, it is connected at the bow and stern, includes a tensioning device and may also include a hook at the stern as a simple gate. Note: Releasing the hook, releases the tension on the lifeline which could be a safety issue! This configuration is not recommended. If a hook is included, and you want to stay with this configuration, please contact us for a solution
2. Gate Lifeline.
A lifeline that is used as a gate. It is attached to a rail on one side and to a hook on the other. It includes a tensioning device in the hook or separately. Commonly used in transom gates.
3. Lifeline with Aft Gate.
Similar to the No Gate Lifeline but having the gate between the rear stanchion and the stern rail. Essentially a No Gate Lifeline + Gate Lifeline.
4. Lifeline with Midship Gate.
Similar to the No Gate Lifeline but having the gate between two stanchions. Essentially 2 No Gate Lifelines + Gate Lifeline.
Choosing and configuring your kits
Decide on your lifeline configuration(s), you will need and order the appropriate kit for each lifeline. Take measurements to determine the lifeline length required. As an example, in our case on our O'Day 39, we have upper and lower lifelines. We have a rear gate on each side at the stern rail as well as having a transom with a gate.
For this configuration we needed 4 kits of Lifelines with Aft Gate, and 2 sets of Gate Lifelines.
Lifeline Components
1. The line
We use 3/16" high tech line. At present we only offer grey color which we think looks good and goes well with the fittings. If you prefer blue, please contact us . The line has an average strength of about 5,000 lbs, more than equivalent sized stainless steel. The line is 12 strand single braid which is extremely easy to splice and re-splice. Full instructions are included in the kits. As the line is extremely smooth (non abrasive and comfortable on the hands), an extra 2 feet of line for each splice is included to ensure a splice with maximum safety and line strength.
To determine your line length requirement for each kit, measure the distance between the termination points for each lifeline. Although rough measurements are only needed for kit ordering, if you are already at the boat and measuring, you may as well take accurate measurements that will be needed for us or you to make the splices. Measure EACH lifeline. We often see variations between sides of boats and of course the length of upper and lower lifelines differ.
2. Lashings
Lashings are used to replace turnbuckles and adjustable hooks in conventional lifelines. Our lashings use 1/16" High Tech twine that have a average strength of 500 lbs. The twine has a special coating to allow knotting. To provide a working load equivalent to the line, the lashings should have 6 loops. Our kit includes enough twine for up to a 6" loops. Lashing allows you to easily tension your lifelines. Six loops provide a 12 times mechanical advantage. Tight lifelines are important for safety. The included instructions describe how to make lashings as well as how to tie the knots we recommend.
Twine for lashing is included for each line that requires tensioning or where lines are attached to rails and are to be removable.
3. Stainless Steel Thimbles
We supply thimbles at all eye splices except those where we splice to a pelican hook.
4. Pelican Hooks
We supply high quality, adjustable 316 stainless cast pelican hooks. In addition to the hook adjustment, our kits include lashings for tensioning gates. This makes it easy to tension gates without tools and to cut free a gate if the pelican hook has been lashed closed for offshore voyages
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