Replacing original Lifelines on La Belle

Replacing Lifelines on Bayfield 25 using ¼” Dyneema

Breaking strength is ~7000 Lbs. Lighter and easier to splice compared to wire rope.

I ordered ¼” silver Dyneema from LFS Inc. Bellingham, Wa. 

Each 18’2” lifeline used a total of ~22’ with eye splices at each end. $.75/ft. 

I needed Qty 4 ¼-28 threaded extensions to attach the Dyneema to both Pelican hooks and forward turnbuckles.  These have both right hand and left hand threading requirements.

I ordered the following from San Diego Marine Exchange (Downwind Sailing Supply):

Qty 2 -  HY14TJRH THRD T-BOLT TOGGL JAW @ 7.76 ea.

Qty 2 -  HY14TJLH THRD T-BOLT TOGGL JAW @ 7.76 ea.

Qty 4  - SCR ¼” THIMBLE SS @ 0.74 ea.

Starboard aft original Bayfield pelican Hook with  HY14TJLH THRD T-BOLT TOGGL JAW and SCR 1/4" thimble in the lifeline eye

I used 2 types of eye splice techniques.  At the forward turnbuckles I used an interlocking Brummel eye splice, which is easier to make, not quite as strong or as pretty as the full bury splice that Samson recommends.  I used that full bury splice on the aft eyes for an easier time making the eye splice and the greater flexibility to adjust the length of the lifeline before I made the splice.

3" of clear tubing and waxed sailing thread at the aft stanchions creates a soft-stopper for the lifeline.  When the pelican hooks are unfastened, the forward lifeline tension remains adequate to suspend anything light that may be hanging from it.

It took less than a day to cut, splice and replace the 30 years old coated wire lifelines that were starting to show rust.
I used a lot of help from YouTube and the Internet.
I think they look great and they sure are strong.