Lifelines are aptly named…. They are there to save your life.
Originally made of thin wire, modern preferences are for white
vinyl covered wire to provide a softer feel to the hand (and shin
when it's scraped across the wire!) and a more cosmetically pleasing
look. However the ORC, Offshore Racing Council, now requires uncovered
stainless steel wire for lifelines. Hathaways can provide ORC
legal lifelines for your boat.
However
that same vinyl can hide problems until the wire fails at the
wrong moment. As the vinyl runs thru stanchions it can split
as it ages and allow water to be trapped underneath the vinyl,
likewise over time the exposed ends can allow water ingress.
Trapped water can cause corrosion even of stainless steel…
the time to think about replacement is when wear is seen or
brown stains observed.
Hathaways
provides full service lifeline fabrication and replacement,
including stanchion repair and modifications such as the addition
of boarding gates etc.
Contact
Us to discuss your lifelines.
