Before reading on, please take a moment to fill out this week’s survey so we can share your knowledge and experiences with the Cruising Compass family. Thanks.
Have you ever attended a U.S. Sailing Safety at Sea Seminar?
Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out last week’s survey on jack lines. Of those who replied, 86% have jack lines on their boats of od those 94% use webbing. 61% rig jack lines when heading offshore, while 18% rig them only for long passages and 16$ have them rigged all the time. 64% rig jack lines on their side decks, 16% rig them down the deck’s centerline and 22% rig them both ways.
Of the many comments, everyone said they use jack lines whenever sailing offshore and no one reported an incident or an MOB situation. Sample comments:
We also have tethers affixed to key locations along the deck so one can reach and connect to the next tether before releasing the prior tether. This is done where a center jack line is impossible. The ‘permanent’ tethers are too short to allow the user to fall overboard. Once to the center jack line, they can attach their own tether and continue.
I remove the jack lines below decks when not sailing, to protect them from UV light. Nobody needed the jacklines in 20 years cruising on this yacht.
Fitted and used on my boats for around 50 years without any drama. A friend was motoring, single handed on a short coastal passage in unexpected bad weather. He went over the side from the cockpit on a tether. I attended his funeral.
Give the webbing a few twists to keep it from laying too flat on deck – easier to grab and attach to. Catamaran – two backlines running from bowsprit to port and starboard aft deck cleats – and across aft beam – triangle pattern.
