Jack Lines

[slaume]

Whenever I am sailing with a novice crew, which is pretty much all of the time that I am not single handing, I think about my chances if I fell in. If it is rough cold or otherwise risky I tend to have a little talk about the worst thing that could happen. I always assure them that the boat is very stable and will not flip over. We go through various actions that could be taken depending on my perception of their abilities. The worst thing that could happen is that the most able person could go over. If it is really blowing I tend to concentrate on keeping then informed of our location and how to use the radio. I figure it would be hard enough for an experienced crew to preform a rescue so the drill would be to know where they are and cry for help. The fact is I still treat the sail as a single handing and stay clipped to the boat. If you were dragging along side and could talk to your crew there is a very good chance they could help you out. If you are left behind the best you could hope for it that they throw lots of floating stuff overboard to help make the spot and can report a fairly accurate location to a search team. It sounds pretty scarry when you write it down, Steve.

[Dick Kobayashi]

Congratulations on your CD 25, Ar. You will be delighted. My advice is to follow your own instincts on this. If you don't have a dodger a jack line down the center line seems right to me with a padeye or two for the cockpit. My advice though is to get the boat in the water and familiarize yourself with it. Then picture in your mind how the jack line/tether system will best work for YOU.

[JimL]

When I had a CD25, I installed eyes on each side of the cabin top, near the companionway, at the aft end of the cabin trunk. I reinforced inside with stainless plates (you can reach this area with the compass removed (starboard side) and electrical board removed (port). I ran the jack lines tightly from one eye, through the deck cleat, and back to the other eye (they lay on each side of the sea hood and forward hatch).

This arrangement keeps your safety line out of your feet when going forward, and there is plenty of room to reach the aft end of the cockpit without unhooking. You can also get all the way into the cabin before you unhook.

I use a similar method on my CD26. This arrangement allows you to keep the snap hook in reach while reefing on the cabin top. It works.....I slipped off the cabin top when the boat got on her side, and fell into the leeward lifelines. The safety harness kept me from going headfirst. All I got was wet and a little sore.

Send me an email and I'll send you a pic of my line routing, with my harness clipped on.

Regards, JimL