Lifelines sometimes function as intended to keep one from falling overboard. There are also times where lifelines only serve to cartwheel you overboard as the top line is about knee high. Once in a while, a lifeline fails as was the case for me last weekend. As I was leaning over the port rail to hang the spring line on the piling, the upper lifeline gave way. Fortunately, I stayed dry!
The piece pictured above is a swage stud. It connects the 1/8" stainless steel cable to the pelican hook. The cracks on each side should NOT be there!
My new buddy Mike, the rigger at West Marine using the swaging machine to build a new lifeline for me. I guess he is swaging the swage stud!
Here you can see the new swage stud and pelican hook. The white cable is actually the nylon coated stainless steel cable. Another job done!
