REPLACING LIFELINES....>

[Terri]

 I've heard of some using ?Spectra braided line w/o gates.  Don't want vinyl coated again.  Pro's & Con's of using??? Has anyone done this?? 

[zeehag]

i have been changing out my lifelines on both of my boats with spectra lines--lol they are color coordinated to go with any decor lol.....i like the line rather than the able to rust coated cables--which look ratty very quickly and are more likely than not to cause contusions and traumatic injury if fallen upon, whereas the line isnt as prone to that--i just tie the ends onto the stanchions with half hitches around the stanchion--works well....

[Larry Wilson]

Zee,
I'd be really paranoid toward the half hitches. They have a way of working loose. Spectra doesn't compress like double braid so it's hard to get a tight knot. I'd probably use a splice, or a bowline.

[Larry Wilson]

Terri,
A couple of points. The reason that coated wire is getting a bad rap is that so many people never replace it. Racing committees decided that the uncoated wire was better because it is easier to inspect for corrosion. As good as spectra is, it is still more prone to chafe than either coated or uncoated wire.
Remember that the coated lines you're replacing are probably 20 years old. Will you have the boat in 20 more years? Will the boat still be afloat in 20 years?

[Terri]

It appears the previous owner replaced one side... yeah, go figure..doing it yourself and you only replace one side..geesh. Anyways I read if you have light rusting stains on ends where vinyl ends..put replacement on the top of the list. Is this true??? 20 years? Don't even know if i'll be afloat in the 20 years :-o

[Larry Wilson]

Exactly...the rust is the tell tale.

[Terri]

And that's on the side that was replaced too. ugh! That big ole hole in the water gettin bigger and I'm not sailing enuf!!! :-(