Maintenance - dyneema lifelines

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dyneema lifelines

Printed From: Laser 28 International Class Association
Category: Laser 28 General
Forum Name: Maintenance
Forum Description: All the things to care for your boat
URL: http://www.laser28.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=434
Printed Date: 06 February 2025 at 3:33pm
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Topic: dyneema lifelines

Posted By: Guests
Subject: dyneema lifelines
Date Posted: 29 December 2010 at 2:41pm

With the ISAF approving Dyneema rope for lifelines, are we able to replace our current wire lifelines? Couldn't see anything in the class rules to prevent this, but wanted to check?

http://www.sailing.org/31312.php - http://www.sailing.org/31312.php

Replies:

Posted By: khardy
Date Posted: 04 January 2011 at 12:32pm

It's there:

12 d)Lifelines shall be made from white PVC coated stainless multi-strand wire. Wire diameter shall not be less than 1/8" diameter.

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 04 January 2011 at 1:45pm

Sounds like a rule in need of changing. ISAF offshore regs (http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/OSR2010Parts1to6101209-%5B8164%5D.pdf) state that "c) Stainless steel lifelines shall be uncoated and used without close-fitting sleeving, however, temporary sleeving may be fitted provided it is regularly removed for inspection." I can't remember exactly when they made this change, but it was in response to failures of coated lifeline wires. The coating makes it impossible to see when the wire has become compromised. I have uncoated wire on my boat. It is a little tougher on the hands, but not too bad. %20 - %20 -

Posted By: frfletch
Date Posted: 05 January 2011 at 4:27pm

When I purchased Voila in Portland, Oregon, the marine surveyor's note issued a caution on the coated lifelines. We trucked the boat to Blaine, Wa, and then rigged her and sailed up to Vancouver. Ten minutes out the upper lifeline broke on starboard. An hour broke, the lower one broke. I had new uncoated lifelines made up as per the new ISAF rullings disallowing coated lifelines on racing vessels, and about two weeks later they changes to allow for synthetics (spectra). I would have gone for the synthetic in interest of weight and added some PVC protection sleeves at each stanchion. While we know these synthetics to be strong, they will certainly abrade faster than stainless, and once they are worn one doesn't know what strength they are working to. I would still use them, however, if I was setting up again. Note we only race under PHRF.

Posted By: khardy
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 8:21am

I replaced mine with Dynema. Going on two years I’ve had no problems.
There are several class rules that could do with some updating. I am down with keeping costs down while providing for a level playing field. But in some areas, the newer technology is to the point where there is little difference to the expense.

Posted By: frfletch
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 11:15am

I agree, however if using stainless one must pay a rigger to do several professional swages, plus special fittings, etc., whereas with dyneema one can do one's own splicing without special tools and I think the final installation is cheaper with dyneema.