DSK wrote:

My advice FWIW would be to take off the lifelines & stanchions,
fiberglass over the holes properly, and remount the bow pulpit
properly. A bow pulpit can be a godsend. Much more useful than the
usual lifelines.

I was planning on keeping the pulpit (and it does need remounting).


Before I make the final decision to remove them, is there anything
I'm missing about their function, such that removal would be a
mistake?

Well, do you need them to hang fenders from ...

That's a very good point. :-) Since I was planning to plug the holes with
bolts rather than glass over, maybe U-bolts of the right width would be a
better idea.


... or secure spring lines?

My feeling is that I'd rather use cleats for that - there are four around
the cockpit (two at the quarters, two mid-way along the sides), but only one
in the middle of the foredeck.


Drying towels & other laundry?

Unlikely. I'd rig a line if I needed to do that.


Clamping a tent cover onto?

A sheet of material described as a 'boom tent' came with the boat, but I
don't know how it attaches to the sides. I dare say I could find something
to tie it to if I ever wanted to use it.


Those are
the usual functions, since lifelines as commonly installed are next
to useless for preventing crew overboard.

I think I can find alternative ways of fulfilling those functions - my
concern was more about whether safety would be compromised.


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.