JackLines Again....

[Terry]

Well, I did do a search but the threads and posts are pretty old and outdated and I thought maybe there might be some new methods on an old idea.
I bought a harness and tether from Craigslist, failrly new and in very good condition, doesn't even look used. Anyway I went down to the boat and tried to imagine where and how I would attach jacklines. One long one from bow to stern?? Maybe a series of shorter ones, stantion to stantion?? The tether is 6' so I think if I clip one end to the traveller/mainsheet car I can manuever the cockpit, it is topside that has me concerned and if I am alone I would like to be able to set and retrieve the fenders without fear of going overboard. I am wondering if I can run short jacklines from the base of the forward stantion to the base of the componionway stantion either fore and aft or perhaps criss cross forward port stantion to aft starboard stantion. This would keep me attached while working the cabin top folding the sail on the boom or getting fenders. I could also run a line from the mast base plate to the bow cleat for working the bow area (sounds dangerous) or work from the forward hatch. I could also run a line from the mid stantion (companionway) to the stern stantion for more freedom of movement in the cockpit. The series of shorter ones require unclipping and reclipping for a brief second but I think it is doable. I am also thinking of using 'D' shackles rather than SS carabiners to attach to the stantions for greater strength. How about d-rings clipped onto those stantion base thingys that are welded onto the stantion to help hold it upright, are they secure enough? What size and type of line, polyester or nylon, 1/2 inch or other? There are limited options for jackline attachment positions on the M boats, if anyone has any ideas lets hear them.

[Ixneigh]

I have not seen much on my new mac M thats strong enough to take the weight of a full grown person plummeting off that mile high freeboard. not to mention trying to re board the boat in weather bad enough to toss you off in the first place. I would probably run one continuos line around the mast and aft, across the cockpit and back to the mast.
The mast is probably the strongest point on the deck of these boats.
If the line is not tied to anything but its own end, you will have free range of movement and even go down below wihout unsnapping.
On a few trips over the bahama banks, i had my harness on all the time. I think i had harness tanlines. The jacklne system worked well. I had a v222 and used the same thing. Around the mast but tied no where else.
The draw back is the slack in the line and tether. That allows you to actually fall into the water even if still tied to the boat. One option would be to use the binnacle to keep the loop tight allowing just enought slack to slide your snap hook around the binnacle. If you go over though you would damage the steering system of the boat.
For line i used3/8 dacron.

I am guilty of not using the harness enough or at all while sailing in home waters. I am always alone. I like to sail at night. I am working on refining the reefing system and sail plan to make it easy to have the right sail up. I should add the jackline project to my list.

Ixniegh

[FinallySailing]

I have a 26S, so some of my comments will be more general, a bit the results of getting our boat safer for sailing alone or with kids ....
Stanchions are probably one of the weakest points on any boat. So you don't want to clip a possible heavy impact load onto that. You could attach the jacklines between the mast or better your stern cleats and your bow, where the forestay attaches - that should be a strong point, or do you have a cleat for your anchor rode to attach to ? Some people put fixtures down esp. for the jacklines. Generally your tether onto the jackline should not be longer than 6 feet. Some people say 3 feet. Your jackline (where you clip yourself onto) should not add to that, so should lie flat and not to slack. Should you get thrown overboard, than a shorter tether will avoid you being immersed head down and will stop you bobbing up and down in the water, beeing thrown against and dragged under the hull or even into the prop. Also, no jackline is worth anything without a proper harness with a crotchstrap.

Fair winds,

Immo

[Catigale]

I harness when I topside on the Cape...mostly because I have 3-4 kids on board who aren't mine and I don't wish to leave a boatful of kids for the Admiral to explain. She has told me she will dig me up from the grave and shoot me again if I do that to her. Tether is short, under 3 feet, so I can't go overboard or dangle. 5/8 line from bow to stern with a wrap around the mast. I unclip and re lip to go around if needed....which is rare.

[arknoah]

I am guilty of not using the harness enough or at all while sailing in home waters. I am always alone. I like to sail at night. I am working on refining the reefing system and sail plan to make it easy to have the right sail up. I should add the jackline project to my list.

Ixniegh

Since I envision myself sailing alone much of the time, I need to do this as well. I wonder: I'm trying to avoid purchasing a $200 inflatable pfd with a harness. I have a decent vest (Type III). Are there harnesses I can buy that would go over that and are designed to be worn that way? I'm new enough that I want to be sure of what's possible before I put out the $$.

[Divecoz]

On My Florida Trip sailing alone........ I used a BCD cumberbund.=. 2 sets of Large Velcro closures.. 4 SS D rings.. I primarily " Snapped" myself in on both life lines at the helm..( 5' of rope each side with HUGE SS snap rings) I did use it up top / forward ....to reef the main once.. Your NOT looking for an anchor point to bungee jump from... Your looking for some stability...
So your Over The Side .. being drug through the water at 3 to 6 mph.. Lots of wind and waves.. I seriously doubt that more than 2 or 3 of the members on this board could re-enter a boat of our type under those conditions.. If you've never done it ? Its always looks....... easy..till you try to do it yourself!!!
Case in point: Myself and 3 other MORONS! Decide to Re-Enact ...The Frogman Pick Up sequence from an old movie..
Should be easy... Heck Aldo Ray did it... But fortunately I suggested WE.... try it first........ at about 10 MPH... NOT ON PLANE!!
Hummmm looked easy enough an aside from some minor shoulder injuries..... no one was hurt.. well at least no one went through the PROP!!!!
4 Gym Rats and after trying, and in time........... succeeding at 10 MPH NO One Opted for...... On Plane!!
I suggest leaving the Batman stuff to CGG Movies..

[mastreb]

I am guilty of not using the harness enough or at all while sailing in home waters. I am always alone. I like to sail at night. I am working on refining the reefing system and sail plan to make it easy to have the right sail up. I should add the jackline project to my list.

Ixniegh

Since I envision myself sailing alone much of the time, I need to do this as well. I wonder: I'm trying to avoid purchasing a $200 inflatable pfd with a harness. I have a decent vest (Type III). Are there harnesses I can buy that would go over that and are designed to be worn that way? I'm new enough that I want to be sure of what's possible before I put out the $$.

I would not harness myself to the boat. If you are single handing without a wheel brake or autopilot, the helm and rudders will turn out and stall the boat almost immediately with nobody on the helm. with the swim ladder down you should be able to re-board in any reasonable weather. If the boat fail to stall and continued under power, you would be unlikely to pull yourself in against the force and would more likely be drowned in the attempt. Consider an EPRB if you are really worried about it.

[Highlander]

Done this once while hiking out on my she went over 75% released the sheets she came back up so fast tossed me over board I was attached to a 50ft line with a pfd attached to the end of it ! I know not to bright , anyway boat sailed on for a little while the line slid through my harness bringing the pfd to me was in the middle of June but water was so cold I was not able to put the pfd on the proper way so slid my arms into the front of it wearing it backwards then proceeded to pull myself to the boat pull down the ladder my legs were cramped up so bad by now due to the cold water by this time it took me 20min to get up the ladder felt like I was carring 600# on my back took me another 20mins to slide into the cockpit . So you deffinately want to avoid going into the water if its cold & if your dressed for warmth you'll weigh a ton with all your wet clothing , so I now have a survivers suit , glad to say I've never had to try it out yet must be getting smarter I guess

J

[Scott]

My father went over just south of San Diego at the beginning of his sojourn that direction. Banged off the hull for a mile or 2 before his mate could help him back onto the boat. They had to call coast guard to have the boat skippered back in and it was another week before they were off again. Plan on what happens after you go over. Either short enough that you cant or long enough that you dont bang against the hull.

[Catigale]

[sailor38]

This is a long post and covers jack lines, tether/harness, and PFDs but we lived aboard our 38' sailboat and sailed from Maine to Trinidad over 7 years so have had some experiences with all three. Now we have our small (to us) 26D. (but - 120 miles in 2 hours vs 24hours is good!) We're talking about adding jack lines on CHICA too. When we were on our big boat, we had two steel wire lines, one on each side from bow to stern that we clipped on. Also 4 pad eyes in cockpit. On our small 26D, we are planning to run a single low stretch braided line or steel cable from new large anchor cleat with 1/4" aluminum backing plate to the mast, around it and back to a fully backed pad eye in the cockpit. We'll add pad eyes in the cockpit as well for clipping on. Jack lines are important safety features but the tether/harness and PFD are just as important! Yes it's money but it may save your life!

We always used a two lead tether (a short lead and a long one) to an inflatable PFD with built in harness . Our rule was to never be sailing on deck alone or in rough weather without being tethered on with short lead. Our rule was if you left the boat you were dead! Pure and simple! We kept that in mind always. With a two lead tether, we could clip one before unclipping the other. We would always clip on to a pad eye before coming up into the cockpit. We could also reach the mast, tether around it and then unclip from the jack line if needed (we had to go to mast for reefing). Very secure that way. As a BIG word of caution, DO NOT use the standard spring loaded tether clip. It can come off of a pad eye or other spot if twisted wrong! I had that amazing thing happen alone at night in the cockpit. I was very careful rest of night and was able to duplicate situation later. The clips that require second pressure to release are best. Winchard made the one we used. Wrap some white rigging tape around most of the tether clip to keep the steel clip from dragging noisily across the deck There is a two line stretching tether available that has these clips and a snap shackle release at the harness end (for quick release if being drowned by being in water with boat moving!).

Lastly, CHECK YOUR PFD ANNUALLY! We learned the hard way! My wife had hers on when a big wave hit the boat and filled some of the cockpit. Her auto inflation went off and her PFD blew up and then immediately collapsed! Turns out after talking with the mfgr that the seams are "welded" somehow and that over time and with storage heat they can fail! Luckily, it wasn't really needed at the time! Needless to say, we spend the money for a cartridge once a year and blow it up to test mechanism and seams.

Sorry for the length of this post but these three items are all very closely related and critical to staying safe aboard our boats. Safe sailing to all.