Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 02:41:16 PM

Title: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 02:41:16 PM
Just spent (too long) a while reading posts about Tether Padeye locations prior to installing them on Eximius.

Not wanting to restart the well worn argument (sorry ' Chat ' ) about whether to install / use Tether Padeyes, I'm just looking at where makes best sense.

Earlier this year we encountered a brief storm during which we donned our Foulies and both of us, in the cockpit, hooked our tethers to the boat, it was a nasty storm with winds excess of 50kts, but we did not have an easy to use Padeye to hook too.

As skipper, I set the rules on my boat and one of them is "If we are not tied to something; Anchor, Mooring, Another Boat, or Dock, then everyone must be wearing their PFD in the cockpit" and "If we are on the Ocean (our normal sailing area) anyone going on deck must be attached to the Jacklines" - I read my rules which are on a laminated card to any new crew before we untie (and email them ever since someone came onboard ill prepared by my standards).

So, having gotten past that, I'm considering installing two Padeyes on the side of the Port Side Cockpit Seat one aft and the other forward, ie. the backing plates will be inside the port cockpit locker.

Any Gotcha's you can think of regarding the location choice?

Thanks.

Paul

Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Noah on October 28, 2016, 02:45:56 PM
Where do your jacklines connect to and why not just tether to them?
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 02:52:43 PM
I run a jackline on each side, inside the lifelines but outside the shrouds. Up front they are through looped to the bow cleats, aft they are secure with a strop that takes several tensioning turns through the jackline loop and aft cleats. The strop has a eye splice on one end and that is fed through the jackline loop (think square knot), this makes it easy to tension the jackline.

However, my intent is to use the padeyes to keep crew in the cockpit.

Paul
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Stu Jackson on October 28, 2016, 05:19:39 PM
The bulkhead for the port locker is rather thin.  I sugest you find a thicker portion of fiberglass, like right below the companionway opening and the vertical on the starboard side of the cockpit.  I suggest through bolted U bolts, too, instead of padeyes.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 05:58:57 PM
I like the idea of the companionway location and the U bolts.

That will work for the crew in front of the pedestal, but not sure our tethers will reach from the companionway around the pedestal for the helms person.

Paul
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Stu Jackson on October 28, 2016, 07:40:46 PM
Quote from: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 05:58:57 PM
I like the idea of the companionway location and the U bolts.

That will work for the crew in front of the pedestal, but not sure our tethers will reach from the companionway around the pedestal for the helms person.

Paul

That's why I suggested the starboard side.  You could use the angled part at the aft end.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: KWKloeber on October 28, 2016, 10:23:40 PM
Quote from: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 02:52:43 PM
I run a jackline on each side, inside the lifelines but outside the shrouds. Up front they are through looped to the bow cleats, aft they are secure with a strop that takes several tensioning turns through the jackline loop and aft cleats. The strop has a eye splice on one end and that is fed through the jackline loop (think square knot), this makes it easy to tension the jackline.

However, my intent is to use the padeyes to keep crew in the cockpit.

Paul

JTSO the best location for one or two jacklines is as close to the deck centerline as possible -- to keep you OUT of the water -- instead of connected to the boat AFTER you go in the water.  The closer to either lifeline, generally the lower the chance you'll stay aboard.

-kk
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: KWKloeber on October 28, 2016, 10:30:00 PM
Quote from: britinusa on October 28, 2016, 02:41:16 PM
ie. the backing plates will be inside the port cockpit locker.


Paul

regardless of the location, I would consider not just a backing plate, but assess whether the section needs to be "beefed up,"  say with a plywood panel epoxy laminated to the backside to stiffen/strengthen against a major blow out.

-ken
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Noah on October 28, 2016, 10:56:42 PM
I use this for hooking safety harness to when behind the wheel.  It is is also dual purpose--i attach my snatch block for my spinnaker sheet there as well.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: waterdog on October 28, 2016, 11:58:43 PM
I mounted eye nuts on the back of the bolts for the companionway stairs and ran web straps back to separate eye nuts mounted under the engine panel and similar location on stbd side.   Essentially cockpit jack lines.  Clip on before entering cockpit and you have a free run around the wheel.  Anybody alone at night was clipped in.  Forward work required waking up the off watch. 
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Mark Sutherland on October 31, 2016, 09:06:10 PM
My forward cockpit pad eye is as described by Stu.  The aft cockpit end: I have - 1/2" line wound tight 3 times around the base of the base of my wheel pedestal with a loop to connect the aft end of my cockpit jack line.  Regarding my forward jack line, from the dodger forward, it is in the middle of my deck, all the way to my bow cleat.  A photo would best convey how I rigged it but I don't have one at the moment. It is attached aft at the starboard snap shackle pad eye.  The webbing then runs along the starboard side deck then thru the starboard traveler triple block hub, then thru the port traveler triple block hub, back to the centerline of the cabin top, then forward to the bow cleat.  It's hard to explain the arrangement at the traveler, but it looks like a "Y" when looking back at it from the mast.  I have a short(3ft?) teather option on my harness, and a long(5ft?) option.  I use the short when moving from the cockpit to just in front of the dodger, and the long while forward of the dodger.  The long teather is just long enough to stand up at the centerline, but short enough that I cannot go over the side.  When reefing, with the boom eased out over the side deck, I actually lean against the jack line while tying the aft reef line.  I'll get some photos if anyone is interested.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Noah on October 31, 2016, 10:20:54 PM
How about post a sketch?
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: britinusa on November 01, 2016, 08:49:13 AM
Just to show an option

Here's an image I sketched out using Sketchpad online at https://sketch.io/sketchpad/ (https://sketch.io/sketchpad/)

Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Jon W on November 01, 2016, 10:12:49 AM
Not sure I understand the traveler setup. Photos would be appreciated, thanks.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Noah on November 01, 2016, 04:39:30 PM
Sorry Paul. I was asking Mike Sutherland for a sketch of his set-up.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Mark Sutherland on November 01, 2016, 08:46:42 PM
Here's the sketch of my forward jack line setup.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Noah on November 01, 2016, 10:19:32 PM
Interesting. Is your boat a pre 1990 with a single center bow cleat? Do you always traverse forward using the starboard side? No problems fouling the traveller? I kind of like idea of a single centerline path as opposed to my dual port and starboard lines running full bow to stern. Less likely to fall overboard and be dragged your way. Not sure I could pull my old self back aboard if I took the plunge while hooked in.
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Stu Jackson on November 02, 2016, 08:19:17 AM
WADR to those of you who have thought this stuff through, the most interesting advice I have seen....treat the edge of the boat like a 500 foot  cliff.  I did lines and finally realized that it is too complicated.  Just bloody hold on.😂
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Mark Sutherland on November 02, 2016, 09:25:24 AM
Hey Noah, My boat is an '86 with an upgraded Garhauer traveler.  I replaced my single bow cleat with two side cleats.  I always traverse forward on the starboard side because I always reef while on a starboard tack (boom to port and out of my path forward).  Reefing on starboard tack technically affords me broader right of way while executing the reef.  No problems with the jack line fowling the traveler.  The webbing line does not touch any moving parts or the traveler line itself.  It only touches the stationary inner hub and side plates of the triple blocks.  While traversing forward, I have to sit down on the cabin top and unclip when I arrive at the traveler, then re-clip to the remaining centerline webbing, but it's no big deal.  Been doing it for years.  It's so much less stressful (especially for my wife who's nervous about the prospect of having to execute MOB recovery) being able to safely stand on deck in challenging conditions.
Stu, it's BECAUSE I treat the toe rail like a 500 ft cliff that I tether to my centerline jack line, lol.  (Loved your NW trip diary BTW.  Thanks for that).
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: britinusa on November 03, 2016, 06:53:09 AM
I'm curious...
Why does the line go over the port side of the traveler and not just wrap around the mast?

Paul
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Mark Sutherland on November 03, 2016, 09:21:49 AM
If I run the line from the starboard side deck directly to the mast it restricts my range to the port side deck.  Imagine I'm reefing in heavy wind.  I'm on starboard tack and the end of the boom is over the port side deck. I need be positioned at the port forward corner of my dodger in order to reach th aft most reef tie.  At that point, I'm not tethered to the centerline section of the jack line, I'm clipped to the port "Y" section of the jack line.  Note that while STANDING in this position, on the side deck, in heavy weather, reaching to tie the reef tie using both hands, I'm in an otherwise pretty vulnerable position for going overboard.  There's not much to "hold on" to during that task, as Stu suggested.  But with the tether I can actually lean away from my jack line with no fear of falling overboard (barring a failure of course).
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: britinusa on November 03, 2016, 11:41:26 AM
Thanks.
Does that mean that your 1st & 2nd Reefing lines are not run back to the cockpit?

I have run them back on Eximius, so I don't need to go forward to reef the main, I'm just anticipating that things crop up that demand forward passage (lines jambed etc)

Paul
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Stu Jackson on November 03, 2016, 05:41:13 PM
Quote from: marksutherland on November 03, 2016, 09:21:49 AM..........There's not much to "hold on" to during that task, as Stu suggested.  But with the tether I can actually lean away from my jack line with no fear of falling overboard (barring a failure of course).

Sure, but why leave the cockpit at all?

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Reefing (http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Reefing)
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Mark Sutherland on November 03, 2016, 06:25:25 PM
Correct Paul, I do not have my reefing lines run aft to the cockpit.  I also like to be tethered in when I'm deploying and dousing the spinnaker.  Some wild things can happen from time to time with the spinnaker flying, especially with a less seasoned, backup helmsman at the wheel. 
Title: Re: Cockpit Tether Padeye Location
Post by: Mark Sutherland on November 08, 2016, 09:23:10 PM
Here are photos of my jack line setup.