Sure. Whatever you say. I'm sure the people in the mental
hospital really want you back soon.

Why are you sure of that? The only time I have ever seen the inside of a
mental hospital was when the high school senior class was taken to one as part
of the state's required course work to scare the seniors into not making
babies. That was a VERY long time ago. I can't imagine that anyone would even
remember I was there even a week later, let alone decades later. In fact,
likely is that most of those people who ran the place are long since dead.

Jonny, do you know something about the inside of mental hospitals you haven't
told us about?


"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
jonny, you stupid, clumsy, spastic clod. I have gone forward at night
offshore
to change headsails without a harness or jackline in utter safety. You,
on the
other hand, would fall overboard.

Yep... it's better to have two (one short and one so you can stand) for
rough conditions. As you say, jacklines in sections is the ticket. Also,
don't forget the instruction to the crew. For example, when off shore,
the rule was that you must be hooked on when you exit the cabin at
night. During the day, this is true only in rough weather.

I have the SOSpenders with the integrated harness. Why do you think
a separate system is better?

"Michael" wrote in message
...
I mentioned earlier that the lifeline is only one integral part of the
system and then included stanchions and Doug brought in the issue of
stanchion bases. Finally we mentioned jacklines. But's thats' not all
of
it.

A word on harnesses and tethers. Again this is of interest only for
those
who go where they are needed, or those who need them regardless of
where
they go.

Tethers. I was tempted once upon a time to use one long one. Then I
had
occasion to test what it was like to be dragged alongside a self
steering
boat and try to get back on board. Not a pretty picture. No it wasn't
an
accident it was a tested conducted at speeds from one to seven knots.
Based
on that days work we came up with the following:

Use short tethers. That coupled to a centered jackline will keep you
from
going over.

Use two tethers in heavy weather. Snap in to the next section of
jackline
before unsnapping the first one. In the worksite use both.

Use snaplinks that are positive locking. The best one's don't come
from
the
marine stores. Go to a store specializing in gear for blue collar
folks.
My personal favorite isWork Wear in Lynwood WA.

Harnesses. The SOSpenders and the stand alone harnesses are neat,
comfortable and do the job PROVIDING they don't pop open. The kind
with
the
buckle that goes through an opening sideways then falls into place is
not
worth the money. On our fullharnesses we use the kind where the chest
and
leg straps are a sturdy belt buckle arrangement or a positive snap link
with
safety release arrangement.

For going aloft or for veryheavy weather I use the industrial kind
withtheleg straps. On these the tether goes in the middle of the back
or
to
two chest rings. For standard work around the boat I had my
comfortable
chest only harness modified with positive snap hooks to ensure it
wouldn't
come undone.

This sort of gear also makes it easy for other crew to get you back on
board
or lower you down from an aloft worksite.

Stay away from the belt only kind for deck or going aloft purposes.
These
are banned from commercial ships anymore. Sudden falls to tether end
save
the sailor from going over but damage the spinal cord severely.

When choosing your gear keep this in mind. No one is going to show up
in
a
few minutes when you are way out there. What you have with you is all
you
have. Tools not Toys. And those who choose to use none of the above
won't
be out to help you either.

M.