[C38] Lifeline failure

[Steve Smolinske]

This Summer we almost lost our bowman on two occasions from leaning on
the life lines in the cockpit.  One time the ring holding the cotter pin
in at the aft end got caught on something and pulled out of the cotter
pin, eventually the pin slipped out.   I think when we drivers the ring
gets caught on gear and deformed or pulled out, because we caught the
same problem again before the pin popped out.   the other time the gate
hook let loose.  Each time we had them taped but the tape wore off or
got washed away.  I am thinking about eliminating the hooks all together
as we hardly ever open them, there are also better designed hooks with
an over center design unfortunately I don't have enough stud length on
my current lines to use them.   

 

Ditto on Joe's comment about uncoated life lines,  If you still have the
coating it is easily removed by soaking your life lines in MEK
overnight, the next morning the coating will slide right off.   When
going aloft yes always use two halyards, tie a  bowline and tape the
shackle closed.   Also make sure your halyards are internal halyards  we
never use the external spinnaker halyard when going up not even for the
second line.   

 

As you know I love working on my boat, and when I first got Peregrine
the life lines were in horrible condition, so one Saturday morning with
Coffee in hand I went down to the chandlery and made up life lines using
their tools.   Got back to the boat and starting installing them as I
tensioned up the first one I heard a ping and the line went slack...As I
walked aft the cable had pulled out of the crimped fitting,  At that
point It was pretty obvious for me this was a job for the professionals
so I ordered up a set of professionally done lines.   Maybe an engineer
or someone on the board with more knowledge than I can speak to the
differences in hand crimping versus roller crimping.  

 

Steve

 

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Phil Gay
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2011 7:03 PM
To: 'Catalina 38 Listserve'
Subject: [C38] Lifeline failure

 

Que Linda is 31 years old and probably has the original lifelines.  A
few weeks back I noticed a broken strand in the aft end of the port
upper lifeline wire at the eye that the upper gate section attaches to
it.  I removed the lifeline from the boat and was detaching the cotter
ring from the pin that connects the gated section of the lifeline to the
long section lifeline, when the eye "fell" off the wire.  Apparently all
of the strands were at or near failure.  I replaced the two upper
lifelines with the thought of removing the lower lifelines for
replacement next.  A couple of weeks past and a week ago I noticed that
the lower starboard lifeline was sagging.  It was separated at the
turnbuckle at the front of the lifeline.  When I tried to screw it
together again, I noticed that the stud was broken off inside the
turnbuckle.

 

I am amazed and pleased that the lines didn't break when someone was
leaning on them.  I am also amazed that there was so little evidence of
a major problem.  I would highly recommend that you thoroughly inspect
and watch your lifelines if they are more than 15 years old or maybe
less.  The breakage of the upper lifeline could have resulted in a
fatality where the water temperature is now a brisk 49 degrees near the
surface.  I hope you can learn from my experience.

 

Phil Gay

C38 049 Que Linda

Everett, WA

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