Anyone tried the new SUNCOR lifeline kits?

[Ric in Richmond]

http://www.sailcare.com/lifelinekits.shtml

Thinking of doing some DIY on my ancient lifelines. I have all the stanchions out now so I can fill drill rebed and the old life lines are nasty.

These kits seem to be nicely made (at least on line) anyone have any personal experience with them????

[Al]

I made a set of them last year, before they were available as "kits." I used uncoated ss wire. They were pretty easy to put together; cutting the wire to length without the right tool was the hardest part. However, I think the new kits cost more than having new lifelines professionally swaged, so they would make economic sense only if you plan to keep your boat long enough to have to replace the lifelines again in the future. In that case, you'd only need to buy new wire.

Al Lorman

[Ric in Richmond]

Thanks Al!

What tool did you use to cut the wire that you had issues (or success) with?

I was going to tape it well and use a hacksaw or a grinder with a cut off wheel.

They are on sale July 1st at WM for about 100 for no gate and 200 for gate.

[Tim]

Things I noticed about that kit and the lifeline parts from Suncor, according to the website--just a few things to consider before jumping on what may seem to you to be a good deal on the surface.

1. Closed-body turnbuckles or knurled "adjusters"; I think small open-body turnbuckles are preferable for ease of maintenance and operation. I never think closed turnbuckles are a good idea anywhere, and don't like those rigging adjusters either. Real turnbuckles are the best choice in my opinion.

2. No apparent availability of over-the-center Pelican hooks for the lifeline gates; these are much easier to use and quite preferable if possible, since the tension on the lifeline remains above the opening portion of the hook, making release and reattachment much easier.

This is an over-center hook:


3. It specifies 3/16" white vinyl-coated lifeline. It doesn't specify whether this is the finished (coated) diameter or the uncoated wire diameter, but it'd be important to know, since if it's the finished diameter, that means the wire itself is very small (1/8"). You want at least 3/16" wire; 1/4" is even better for a boat your size.

[Al]

Ric:

I don't have a wire cutter, so I taped and used a hack saw. A cut off wheel might work better. It would be no trouble with the proper wire cutter.

As to Tim's comments, all of which are perfectly valid, I did not find them to be issues for me. First, I did not use turnbuckles. Each of the Suncor fittings I used had enough adjustment room so that I could get the tension right without turnbuckles. Second, I don't tension my lifelines to the point where they need an over the center Pelican hook. In fact, I'm becoming a fan of the older Pelican hooks (the ones with the little wire springs). My new (old) boat has six Pelican hooks; five of the old style and one of the newer ones (the type between the old style and the over the center type). In rough weather, the newer one opens by itself. That has never happened to me with the older types. Third, I did use 3/16 uncoated wire. If the Suncor kit is unclear, you can email Ed Mayo at Suncor (edm "at" suncorstainless.com) and ask.

Finally, Suncor used to make a much less expensive lifeline kit that is still available in some stores. Avoid it. The fittings are not strong enough enough to trust your life to.

Al Lorman