[Rhodes22-list] Rails

[Ronald Lipton]

Mark,

   I have no lifelines and feel no need for them.  We are in a harbor where 
a tender
takes us to the mooring.  Everyone else struggles with the lines, trips over 
them,
and there have been several near-injuries when someone has one foot inboard 
of
the line, the other on the tender, and a wave arrives you can imagine the 
pain).
I have no such problems.  I step on and I am done.  Since I often single 
hand
I have rigged a flat line from the bow to a stern cleat and always keep 
myself
clipped to the line in rough weather.  I would invest in lifejackets with 
clips and
insist that the kids wear the clips.

My son did fall off the bow of my Catalina 22 (with lifelines) when he was 
about 12,
but I picked him out of the water as he was going by - low freeboard helps.

Ron


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mputnam1 at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 9:46 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Rails


>I apologize if this subject has been beaten to death over the years on this 
>list, but I'm new and when I click on the download button for the archives, 
>I get an error message.  I've read the material in the FAQ, but I was 
>wondering if there are any more opinions on this subject ...
>
> So ... here is my question:
>
> As I mentioned in my first email, my wife and I are in the process of 
> working with Stan toward purchasing a recycled Rhodes.  One of the big 
> questions for us is whether or not to get the safety rails.  I know Stan 
> is not real big on the rails (and he's already talked me out of the safety 
> lines that appear to be a great way to launch yourself off the boat), but 
> we have two very young precocious boys (1 and 3) ... and when I start 
> bringing them on the boat, I have to admit that I'm a little nervous (and 
> my wife is a lot nervous) about their safety.  I intend to keep them in 
> the cockpit and cabin as best I can, but you never know.
>
> Stan says he knows of no children that have fallen off a Rhodes, but he 
> says if it's a concern, he recommends tying a line to the mast and 
> clipping it onto their life jacket.  Do all of you who've sailed with 
> young children think that is adequate or workable?  Do you think the rails 
> make a big difference with small children?  I'm not sure I want to tie a 
> leash on my kids, but maybe that's the best course ...
>
> Also, looking at the closeup photos of boats with rails in Stan's 
> materials, they look a little gawky ... but I haven't seen a boat with 
> rails from a distance -- do the rails detract from the boat's appearance?
>
> And finally, when you're out in rough water and you need to go forward to, 
> let's say, fix the jib ... do the rails make it appreciably safer to 
> maneuver about the boat?  I am a novice sailor, so I have to confess that 
> I am not certain how sure-footed I will be under those circumstances.
>
> I'd hate to do overkill, though, and get rails if I'm going to hate the 
> way they make the boat look ... and if they're really not going to do much 
> for my kids' safety anyway.
>
> Thank you in advance for your thoughts on this,
>
> -Mark
>
>
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