Jacklines

[Sea Hunt Video]

I am considering installing jacklines on S/V Bali Ha'i. I would be grateful to receive recommendations of brands, material, etc., from experienced Cape Dory sailors.

I looked at several sailing websites. Several seem to recommend a Wichard jackline that is sold by Defender.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=1098626

I know it is a little expensive but I do not have the skills or tools to "make my own" and, importantly, it is safety gear, not comfort gear. From what was discussed on another thread it seems like most everyone recommends jacklines for solo sailors even in the relatively calm waters of Biscayne Bay.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, recommendations, etc.

[Russell]

1" tubular nylon webbing, heavy duty grade. Take it to a canvas shop or sailmaker to sew loops in the ends based on your measurements (be sure to tell them what you are using them for, so they use the right heavy thread and stitch).

Or pay absurd amounts for Wichard.

FWIW I dont use jacklines in protected waters, only offshore.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Russell:

Thanks. A question. I thought "tubular" jacklines would not be appropriate because if you step on them you can loose your footing if the "tube" starts to roll

As for not using jacklines in protected waters, I kind of lost that discussion/debate in another thread.

[Russell]

Tubular webbing is still flat. Just think of it as double thickness.

[jerryaxler]

go with the flat tubular webbing and make sure it runs from cockpit to bow in an unbroken line so that you don't have to hook and unhook as you move forward. I don't have permanent setup, since I only use it offshore.

[Sea Hunt Video]

make sure it runs from cockpit to bow in an unbroken line so that you don't have to hook and unhook as you move forward.

Thanks Jerry.

My thought is to secure a separate jackline to each stern cleat (port and starboard) and to run each jackline forward, looping around the mast base and then securing each jackline to a separate bow cleat.

I had never really thought that much about jacklines but the other thread has persuaded me that my limited thinking about "no jacklines" might not have been very smart. Surprise

Looping each jackline around the mast would, in my mind, limit the amount of "play". I was also thinking about also looping each jackline around a hand rail port and starboard. The hand rails are secured reasonably well to the cabin roof and would further limit the amount of "play" in the jackline. However, with this route, I would have to "hook, unhook" and hook" to move forward to the mast. No easy solutions.

[Ben Coombs]

It is very easy to tie off the webbing instead of having it sewn. Rock climbers use all kind of knots in webbing. The easiest is simply an overhand knot on a bight.

[bottomscraper]

This stuff:
http://www.sailrite.com/Webbing-Nylon-H ... -Blue-4700

[Oswego John]

Hi Robert,

Some people use two tethers. The prime one is the length of choice, 4 ft, 5 ft, 6 ft. etc. The second tether is about 2 ft long.

As you travel along the jackline, the longer tether is connected to the line. As you come upon the mast, etc., clip on the shorter tether and unclip the longer one. Then clip the longer tether to the line on the other side of mast and then unclip the shorter tether and snap the loose end back on to the harness.

This way you can pass barriers and junctures in a jackline and be always connected to it.

Good luck with the rotten weather down there.

O J

[barfwinkle]

What Russell Said. Unless you have a money tree:!:

Fair Winds

[Sea Hunt Video]

Rich:

Thanks very much for the website If I am looking at the Sailrite website correctly I can buy 50' of webbing for $55 plus S&H. Commodore Bill, no money tree. I need to conserve my limited funds for Guinness.

I think this is what Russell meant by "tubular". Surfer dudes in California use the term a little differently Yo man that wave was really tubular man At least that was the language back in the late 60s.

OJ:

Thanks for the tactical advise. I am looking at a Wichard thether that has a long stretchable connection (3'-6') and a short non-stretchable (I think) connection (3').

http://www.wichard.com/fiche-A%7CWICHAR ... 00-ME.html

[Sea Hunt Video]

Good luck with the rotten weather down there. O J

Thanks OJ. We only got (and are still getting) a lot of rain and some gusty winds. There were small tornadoes in West Palm area and Tampa area but, fortunately, nothing so far in the Miami area.

It's been pretty much raining in Miami for the past 10-12 days. I was aboard S/V Bali Ha'i to do some minor work and check on things. Amazingly, with all the rain, there no water at all in the engine sump and only about 1.5 qts in the bilge. I still can't figure out where the bilge water is entering. I have sealed off (calked) just about everything I can think of. Still, for 10 days of heavy rains and only 1.5 qts., I guess that is not too bad.

Another day of bad weather then we should return to normal summer weather: 90-94 degrees high temps, 78-80 degrees low temps at night and brief almost daily afternoon showers to add a nice layer of 99% humidity to the otherwise oppressively hot air temps. Yea

[Russell]

Also, be sure to only ever rig your jacklines when needed (before going out for a sail), never leave them rigged when you leave the boat. The webbing and the stitching will break down and loose strength in the sun, I cringe every time I see a boat with sunbleached jacklines that are obviously left in place year round.

[tjr818]

If I am looking at the Sailrite website correctly I can buy 50' of webbing for $55 plus S&H. Commodore Bill, no money tree. I need to conserve my limited funds for Guinness.

Other good sources would be REI, Strapworks.com, or any climbing store near you. Don't forget to tether your Guinness.

[Jim Cornwell]

I'm interested in the "loop it around the mast" detail. As I picture that, the jackline starts at a strongpoint in the stern, runs along the deck, climbing up onto the coachroof to take a turn around the mast, then climbs down from the coachroof, along the foredeck to a strong point at the bow. Is that the idea? Without looking at reference materials, I'm also picturing diagrams showing jacklines running uninterrupted along the decks from bow to stern, so the person never has to unclip from the jackline and can use the short tether as a supplement wherever a strong point presents itself. Makes sense to me.

I've made a solemn promise to myself to rig jacklines ALL THE TIME this season and to wear a pfd/harness WHENEVER out of the cockpit while underway, on the theory that the only reliable self-rescue technique is to stay aboard - a mantra that's been repeated over and over on this board and elsewhere. The rig I plan to use is from the bow pulpit stanchion, as far forward as possible, along the deck to a lashing at the stern cleat (allowing for occasional tensioning). A question I have is whether the jackline itself should be tubular nylon or tubular dacron webbing. They're sold both ways, I think. Thoughts on that?