Jeff Morris wrote:

I sailed for many years in smaller keelboats Rhodes 18 and 19's,
Etchells, Solings, IODs, etc. which never had lifelines, and I never
missed them. However, this was mainly day sailing or racing in
relatively protected waters.

Which is what I'll be doing with mine - short races local to the marina and
daysails in the estuary.


When I started cruising, in on smaller
boats (about 24 feet and up) I appreciated lifelines. But to be
useful, they must be at least 25 inches high.

Mine are barely 18", maybe a bit less. I kinda feel they're there for show
more than anything else.


I'm not sure I see the
value of short lifelines on an 18 footer.

As I said to Bob, it was more in case I was missing something like harness
attachment. I think they'll be going - time to hit the lathe and start
making plugs...


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

If you don't have lifelines you will probably be more
conscious of being careful to not fall off your boat.

S.Simon


"Wally" wrote in message ...
Jeff Morris wrote:

I sailed for many years in smaller keelboats Rhodes 18 and 19's,
Etchells, Solings, IODs, etc. which never had lifelines, and I never
missed them. However, this was mainly day sailing or racing in
relatively protected waters.

Which is what I'll be doing with mine - short races local to the marina and
daysails in the estuary.


When I started cruising, in on smaller
boats (about 24 feet and up) I appreciated lifelines. But to be
useful, they must be at least 25 inches high.

Mine are barely 18", maybe a bit less. I kinda feel they're there for show
more than anything else.


I'm not sure I see the
value of short lifelines on an 18 footer.

As I said to Bob, it was more in case I was missing something like harness
attachment. I think they'll be going - time to hit the lathe and start
making plugs...


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

Simple Simon wrote:
If you don't have lifelines you will probably be more
conscious of being careful to not fall off your boat.

Aye, that's a good point. I've never felt that I was about to fall off the
dinghies I've sailed - good non-slip footwear and a hand on the mast or a
bit of standing rigging seemed to be fine for keeping my balance.


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

Aye, that's a good point. I've never felt that I was about to fall off the
dinghies I've sailed - good non-slip footwear and a hand on the mast or a
bit of standing rigging seemed to be fine for keeping my balance.

Hand on the mast?
Holy hulkster.

RB

Bobsprit wrote:
Aye, that's a good point. I've never felt that I was about to fall
off the dinghies I've sailed - good non-slip footwear and a hand on
the mast or a bit of standing rigging seemed to be fine for keeping
my balance.

Hand on the mast?
Holy hulkster.

Dinghy masts are eminently grabbable, Bob.


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

Dinghy masts are eminently grabbable, Bob.

Great gadzooks.

RB

I was missing something like harness
attachment.

We always attach harness to the inside of the boat...I've seen people =
attach to the rails but that wouldn't prevent you from going over...sure =
would be a rough ride, though, until they hauled you back in...

--=20
katysails
s/v Chanteuse
Kirie Elite 32
http://katysails.tripod.com

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea." - Robert A. Heinlein

katysails wrote:
I was missing something like harness
attachment.

We always attach harness to the inside of the boat...I've seen people
attach to the rails but that wouldn't prevent you from going
over...sure would be a rough ride, though, until they hauled you back
in...

I was meaning when having to attend to the halyards at the mast or do stuff
on the foredeck - there are harness attachment loops inside the cockpit. I'm
thinking that a similar loop at the base of the mast might be a good idea.


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

I was meaning when having to attend to the halyards at the mast or do stuff
on the foredeck - there are harness attachment loops inside the cockpit. I'm
thinking that a similar loop at the base of the mast might be a good ide

Jesus wept.


RB

Bobsprit wrote:
I was meaning when having to attend to the halyards at the mast or do
stuff on the foredeck - there are harness attachment loops inside the
cockpit. I'm thinking that a similar loop at the base of the mast
might be a good ide

Jesus wept.

I'll take your word for it.

You have to imagine the scale of things on an 18 footer, Bob. I can reach
the mast from the companionway and a suitable loop bolted to the mast step
would be very secure. With the harness attached to that, I can get right up
to the bow roller.


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