That said, I
think a harness would be in use by then in any case.

Okay, now I'm positive that this is all a troll!
Whew! Glad that's over.

RB

Wally,

On a small boat they really aren't lifelines as such but more of
outboard boundary markers.

On most boats MOB's are usually miss steps because people lose track of
where they are, while doing something else besides watching for when
they run out of boat. I don't know if the low lifeline is more of a
triping hazard or slipping off without a line is greater?

Just thougth I'd mention that the line reminds you of where you're
stepping

Ole Thom

Thom Stewart wrote:

On a small boat they really aren't lifelines as such but more of
outboard boundary markers.

On most boats MOB's are usually miss steps because people lose track
of where they are, while doing something else besides watching for
when they run out of boat. I don't know if the low lifeline is more
of a triping hazard or slipping off without a line is greater?

Just thougth I'd mention that the line reminds you of where you're
stepping

Well, as I said to Bob, my experience is in dinghies, where such things
don't exist. I think I'll be taking them off for now and see what I can do
to rig a harness attachment point in the forward part of the boat.


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

Well, as I said to Bob, my experience is in dinghies, where such things
don't exist. I think I'll be taking them off for now and see what I can do
to rig a harness attachment point in the forward part of the boat.

Well, now you're not making any sense at all. If you are daysailing dinghies,
you won't need lifelines. If you are talking about storm jibs and attaching a
harness, and if you ever experience conditions where you actually deploy such
things, you'l be glad you have lifelines. They are not supposed to be a wall
to keep you on deck, but they are something nice to grab if you are sliding
over board in the dark on a bad night. If they are not falling apart, God
knows why you would want to remove them.

SkitchNYC wrote:

Well, now you're not making any sense at all. If you are daysailing
dinghies,

I'm making perfect sense. My experience thus far has been in dinghies, but
the boat concerned is an 18' cruiser.


you won't need lifelines. If you are talking about storm
jibs and attaching a harness, and if you ever experience conditions
where you actually deploy such things, you'l be glad you have
lifelines. They are not supposed to be a wall to keep you on deck,
but they are something nice to grab if you are sliding over board

So are the shrouds. A harness loop at the base of the mast can be reached
from the companionway.


... in the dark on a bad night.

No lights. No night sailing. Not for quite some time, at any rate. If
lifelines are a very good thing at night, then I'll look into them when such
activities are on the cards.


If they are not falling apart, God knows
why you would want to remove them.

There are no spreader plates under them and I don't like the present
mounting - too weak and too close to the hull. Making up plates involves
more metalwork than I'm willing to undertake at present.


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

Well, now you're not making any sense at all. If you are daysailing
dinghies,

I'm making perfect sense.

There are no spreader plates under them and I don't like the present
mounting - too weak and too close to the hull. Making up plates involves
more metalwork than I'm willing to undertake at present.

No, you're not. And no need to get all snippy about it either. Do you really
think there is less work involved in pulling them all out, filling the holes
and fairing and painting the exterior than leaving them on and not pulling on
them until you need to? They lasted this long without tearing the deck apart.
If all you are looking for is someone to tell you it is OK, then go ahead, it
is OK.

I would say not very necessary. Mostly, they give you a false
sense of security at best. At worst, they're a hazard. On bigger
boats, when you're going up to the front a lot, I can justify them
I suppose.

"Wally" wrote in message
...
How neccessary are lifelines on a small boat like my 18-footer? They don't
seem very functional to me - they barely reach knee height, there's no
deck
to speak of along the sides of the coachroof, and they come down to the
sides around the cockpit - there's no pushpit, only a pulpit, and the most
aft stanchion is level with the back of the cabin.

In terms of their supposed function as something to stop people falling
overboard, it seems that the only area of the boat that they have any
chance
of protecting is the foredeck. I've always likened them more to tripwires
and I've been swithering about whether to keep them on at all. There are
no
spreader plates, so work is required to strengthen them anyway, and making
plugs for the mounting holes will be much less work than trying to make
spreader plates to fit into the tight spaces inside.

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?


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

I would say not very necessary. Mostly, they give you a false
sense of security at best. At worst, they're a hazard. On bigger
boats, when you're going up to the front a lot, I can justify them
I suppose.

Still, after all the dumb comments and useless advice, I have to step up to the
plate and offer the only valid statements.
Lifelines are a must and this is why...
You can hang cupholders from them.

Capt RB

Bobsprit wrote:
I would say not very necessary. Mostly, they give you a false
sense of security at best. At worst, they're a hazard. On bigger
boats, when you're going up to the front a lot, I can justify them
I suppose.

Still, after all the dumb comments and useless advice, I have to step
up to the plate and offer the only valid statements.
Lifelines are a must and this is why...
You can hang cupholders from them.

No stove. No hot stuff to put in cups. No cups. Ergo, no need for
cupholders.


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

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 12:14:04 GMT, "Wally" wrote
this crap:

No stove. No hot stuff to put in cups. No cups. Ergo, no need for
cupholders.

What about for the beer?


Hero@Horvath

I don't spend my money on food. I spend most of my money
on women, porn, booze, and recreation. The rest of it I just waste.