wrote

Lifelines are intended for rather severe loads, such as a 200 pound crew
being
thrown against it. If your (editorial "your") lifelines can't be trusted
to
support a few 5-10 pound fenders, it's time for some serious upgrades.


That doesn't sound like a statement from someone whose been around much,
although I know you have.

One of the jackasses roars through the no wake zone, the boat rolls down and
hooks the fender under either the guard or the protruding edge of the dock
planking and then rolls up as it's pushed against the dock. Strain is now
the lesser of:

The breaking strength of the fender line.

The righting moment of the boat with some inertia factor thrown in.

The force necessary to shread or collapse the fender and pull it out.

Either of these is likely to be well in excess of the strain you would like
to routinely put on a safety item your life might depend on some day. I've
seen it happen.

Just because lifelines don't fail when subjected to common abuse doesn't
mean bedding and laminates are not being compromised at the bases in ways
that could weaken them down the road. Stanchions are a difficult
engineering problem on all except metal boats where they are welded to the
structure. Treat them with the respect you would any important safety
equipment.

--
Roger Long