Thom Stewart wrote:
Hey Nutsy,

Don't know for sure if your trolling or really have a question?

He's got nothing but questions.

... Anyway;
to answer your question. Plain wire are cleaner when new, Easier to
clean, easier to inspect visually, better if your system is designed to
HOLD as the stanchons let go BUT a covered line doesn't develop "Meat
Hooks" as it ages, a clip from a safety line doesn't wear on a single
strand, and is much nicer on the hands getting on & off the boat, The
covered lines will develop crack with age and won't look to sharp but
will still work.


The plastic coated wire is very common, but isn't ABYC or
ORC approved for lifelines. The reason is that the plastic
coating hides flaws in the wire & at the terminals, making
it much more likely to fail under load.

A lot of boats are using UV-protected hi-tech line, spectra
or some such, for lifelines. Make the loops with hog rings
(those little metal clips) and cover them with heat-shrink.
Strong, very low stretch, no meat hooks, easy on the hands.
I don't like bare wire lifelines myself.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King