Association Forum - Jackline picture

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Jackline picture

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

kevinmac
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/06/2005 : 23:53:09

Anyone out there have a picture of jacklines installed on a C250? I am trying to picture how it would be done...

Thanks.

Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 01:29:32

Kevin,

Jackline as in "tether" or as in "mainsail reefing"?

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 10:29:52

Jackline as in something to attach the tether from your PFD to so your butt stays somewhere near the boat... ;-)

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 10:47:38

Hi Kevin,

We've had several good discussions on this topic in the past. 'Seems like the consensus was to run the jackline so that you can try to remain on the boat, rather than to end up in the drink.

I remember Arlyn had a really good idea involving an extra tether he keeps coiled on his PFD so he can make it to the swim ladder in case he does get knocked overboard. Since Arlyn sails a C-250, the specifics of how he runs his jackline should also be helpful to you.

I'll search for that thread later when I've got some time to spare. In the mean time, maybe Arlyn will see this thread and respond, or maybe you can search the archives and see what comes up.

Edit: Here is the thread I was talking about: [url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9899&SearchTerms=tether"]Jackline/tether[/url]

Edited by - Buzz Maring on 12/07/2005 12:41:02

kevinmac
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 21:52:00

Thanks Buzz, that thread is very helpful. What I am wondering now is how folks attach jacklines to the boat. I have heard people say they attach them to the bow and stern cleats, others to the stanchions (and still others say that is too weak), others to the pulpit and stern rail. Just not sure what is best.

When you have a short tether near the mast, do you just loop around the mast, or is there a good attachment point there.

I am going to be single handing in winter, surrounded by cold water. I want to do my best to stay out of the water, and if I get in, to having a hope of getting back out.

The other thread says if you fall in, you are done. If you get knocked out, otherwise injured, or if the water is so cold as to put you in shock, I can see that. But it seems like in some situations, some method of getting back to the swim ladder might give you a chance. Maybe I am just too optimistic, and would not have the strength to get myself up the ladder, or manuver in the boat motion induced current...

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2005 : 08:52:22

Kevin, for many boats, to go over board single handed in cold waters will mean death as it is simply too difficult to get back aboard. The C250 however has a great easy to use swim ladder and open transom making it a very easy boat to get aboard from the water.

While there are a lot of ifs... I think some chance of survival can be had compared to simply accepting death if overboard. For example, if the boat is moving fast... there may not be much that can be done, but if the boat is moving slow or simple being drifted away, staying with the boat is important so a teather is needed but there also has to be a way to get to the swim ladder. An extended teather scheme may accomplish that.

A long teather of course would not normally be wanted as the primary goal is to stay aboard... so the extended teather is a backup system attached to the harness simply to add length if overboard and then needing more length to get to the swim ladder. It simply would hook in the web eye of the primary teathers releasing shackle and then allow the primary teather to be released. Mine is fifteen ft and coils up and attaches to the harness with a velcro strip sewn to the harness.

Primary focus however should be on staying aboard... and that is accomplished by teathering to hardpoints or jacklines. I run jacklines from the stem to the midship stanchion bases inside the stanchions. Such a system however will not hold one from going overboard. All my sail hauling and reefing work on my boat is settup to be done from the starboard side of the main near the mast. There, I've a short four feet rope teather around the mast, which is hooked up while reefing or dropping the main in rough conditions.

Two additional points... loose footing the main aids greatly in cabin top work as the boom then makes a great handrail. It is a win/win deal as the main also benefits. Second, don't forget a lanyard to trip the release latch on the swim ladder.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 12/08/2005 09:50:51

zebra50
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2005 : 15:44:14

There was a brief article in Sail magazine a month or two ago about using the spare halyard as an additional safety. Put out just enough slack to move around but not enough to go over.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2005 : 20:46:51

I would think that attaching yourself to the top of a mast is NOT a great idea. Too many "what ifs" for me. Like, what happens if the mast falls down! Will an accidental jybe sweep you out of the cockpit? No thanks. Just an opinion.

Tom.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2005 : 22:59:17

I think the easiest way to attach a jackline would be to clip one end to the stem fitting or a bow cleat then run it back to a cabintop winch/cleat.

I'm primarily a singlehanded sailor myself and although I don't use a tether (still young and stupid

), I've come to the conclusion that I would want a tether that would not allow me to go over the side, especially in frigid waters. If you have ever been in extremely cold water before, you know what I'm talking about...It doesn't take long to become incapacitated.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2005 : 23:29:48

Very interesting stuff so far, thanks!

Arlyn, where/how do you tether yourself while in the cockpit, or do you?

I don't expect to have to go to the foredeck tremendously often because of the roller furling, is that naive? So your jackline setup would make sense for before the mast.

My biggest concern, because I am an inexperienced sailor on a boat this large (I am used to dinghies, but heck, on those you just kneel next to the mast, and besides, what's a reef? ;-) and not as fit as I used to be, is falling from the top of the coach roof on my way from the cockpit to the mast and back, for reefing and such. I will try to run lines to the cockpit, as much as possible, but even my limited experience leads me to believe that trips to the mast will be frequent. Any ideas on how to tether for that? Loose footing the main appeals to me, but I still like the idea of a tether, so that when I lose my grip unexpectedly, there is a backup.

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2005 : 07:30:53

Kevin, I don't teather when in the cockpit...but I've the wheel with a guard to grasp...

Before going onto coach roof...I cleat a six foot teather from the jack line to the harness... when reaching the mast... the four foot mast teather is also cleated to harness...

I have added a second reef in conditions so severe that I've with butt glued to cabin top, scooted to the mast... when there...one leg is wrapped around the vang.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2005 : 10:31:19

Thanks Arlyn, especially for that last comment about getting to the mast in severe conditions. I won't feel so bad about doing it that way someday...

Thanks also for your reply on coast cruising (another thread), that was very interesting as well.

Edited by - on

zebra50
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2005 : 16:13:18

The article on using the spare halyard as a tether is in the Oct 2005 Sail magazine Cruising Tips section.
Treble tether
In the 2002 ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), one of two brothers sailing a 50-foot boat fell overboard while working on the foredeck. He was clipped on to a jackline, but his brother could not get him back on board and he drowned. I thought about this incident, and now I follow a safety procedure when I’m working on the foredeck.
I use the spinnaker halyard (a spare jib halyard can also be used) and a second harness tether. First I check the halyard length by going forward with my harness on. I clip the halyard to the harness and adjust the length so I can move around the foredeck but am prevented from falling over the lifelines by the halyard. I adjust the length of both harness tethers so I can move from side to side.

When it’s necessary to go forward of the mast, I attach the halyard to my harness and clip the harness tethers to the port and starboard jacklines. Your crew can adjust the halyard length as needed as you move around the deck. With the two harness lines attached, there are three attachment points keeping you on the boat in rough seas. The halyard alone will keep you from going overboard and should allow you to move around easily. R.M. "

"

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.