We’ve been using flat plate attachment bales for our lifelines for the last 30 years. These are exceptionally strong with lots of weld surface to carry the load. In short they last.
The marine standard to create an attachment point for lifelines is with stainless rod, typically about 3/16″/4.5mm, welded to the pulpit or boarding gates. There isn’t much weld area, and over time, between the effects of bending and corrosion these terminations are prone to fail. If you have rod bales, keep a close eye on them, especially the top life line attachment point.
Posted by Steve Dashew (March 8, 2010)
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on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under FPB Series Notes.
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Comments or Questions?
March 9th, 2010 at 3:44 am
Dear Steve.
Know nothing about sailboats and never in a powerboat with lifelines. Few lifelines observed in sailboats tendency to rust and not as solid compare to solid rails
Why lifelines and not solid rails?
BTW Those flat terminals look solid.
Thanks
Carlos
[Reply]
Steve Dashew Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Hi Carlos:
Two reasons. The first is aesthetic, we prefer the lighter look of the wire (we basically want the lifeline system to disappear. The second is practical. When you are against rough commercial docks or rafted to fishing vessels, if the wire rubs against a projection it will deflect. With pipe instead of wire the result is usually a permanently bent section of tubing.
[Reply]