See a boat with netting on the lifelines and it’s a pretty safe bet that there are either kids or dogs aboard.
Of course, netting can’t protect against all overboard accidents, but it does provide an additional layer of safety (not to mention keeping toys and tools on board).
And so after we replaced our lifelines this summer, one of the next jobs was to put netting on to protect our little 7-pound ball of fluff, Paz.
Putting netting on the lifelines is one of those jobs that looks like it’ll be easy . . . until you start doing it. It just takes more time than you expect and you have to contort your body more ways than you ever dreamed on the side decks. Consequently, even though we’d bought the netting a year ago, we decided to wait and put the netting on after replacing the lifelines so that we wouldn’t have to do it twice.
If it’s your first time doing netting, there will be places on the boat where you just can’t put it. For us, the bow is one of those places because of how the genoa furler runs and the cleats for the anchor bridle (or dock lines). But the side decks are our big worry — they are fairly narrow and there’s no gunwale. At anchor, Paz’s “bathroom carpet” is on the front deck, and she goes up there on her own when the need arises (underway, one of us takes her on her leash).
I always worry that she could slide right under the lifelines and we’d never know it. And I think she finds the side deck a little scary too as she rarely walks down it, prefering instead to go over the cabin top . . . where I know she could also fall and slide under the lifelines, but it apparently hasn’t dawned on her.
While I can never say with certainty that I know what she’s thinking, it certainly seems that Paz likes the extra safety of the netting. Yesterday Dave got it pretty well strung on the starboard side of the boat (there’s still parts to finish up) and I was amazed to see Paz walk up and down the side deck numerous times last night and this morning — she almost never did before! Makes me feel much better than having her walk over the coach house roof.
The side deck without the netting (left) and now with (right) — a big difference for Paz and for us! (Note: Dave has not yet re-strung the lower lifeline in the photo on the right. That’s today’s job.)
There are two basic ways to attach the netting: pass the lifelines through it or attach it with cable ties or line. Dave prefers to pass the lifelines through the top and middle, and then uses cable ties where it attaches to stainless tubing (ends and a bit of the top) and line at the bottom (this 1/8″ line from West Marine is great for this).. Anywhere that you’ve used cable ties you’ll need to periodically check as they will break from UV damage (even the ones with UV protectant).
How long it takes to put it up depends a lot on how big your boat is, the configuration of the lifelines and the space you have to work in. Barefoot Gal‘s side decks are just a pain to work on as they’re narrow. We can only work about so many hours a day in such twisted positions! Dave is working on this while I’m doing some other stuff, and it’s going to take him the better part of three days.
Many marine stores sell lifeline netting and prices vary considerably. The least expensive that I found for high quality netting is Seattle Marine, also known as SeaMar. At 60¢ – 80¢ a foot collapsed length (it shrinks by 20-35% when you pull it to its full height), it’s about one-quarter the price of many other brands, plus has double strands top and bottom for longer life (we used this same netting on our previous boat). Expect high quality netting to last 5 to 7 years in tropical sun; more in temperate latitudes.
- Seamar Lifeline Netting — 2″ diamonds
- 1/8″ polyester line from New England Ropes at West Marine (note: even if you don’t use this line, do NOT use polypropylene as it degrades very quickly in the sun)
Shipping from Seamar is a little slow, with it tending to go out 5 days after you order, so plan accordingly. You can call and request that it go out faster — also note that they are located in Seattle and if you opt for ground shipping it can take 5 to 7 days to reach Florida from when it leaves the warehouse.
Note that once you choose the height netting you need, the next page tells you how to figure how much you need as the diamonds open up.
So show the kids and dogs how much you love them . . . put netting on the lifelines!
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S/V Dos Libras says
We put ours up for the cats, but we’re going to replace them (they’re disintegrating after 2+ years) because they’ve saved us many times from THINGS going overboard.
The Boat Galley says
Oh yeah. I’m sure it paid for itself in hats and towels, not to mention dog toys, on our previous boat.
Carolyn Brown Fuller says
Shouldn’t they have lasted longer that that? We’ll need something to keep our pooch on deck, but if that’s all they last, will look at something else.
The Boat Galley says
Carolyn Brown Fuller They should last 5 – 7 years. The ones we put on the previous boat were in great shape after 4 years when we sold the boat. I think it depends on the manufacturer.
Gimme Shelter says
Will have to add this to the looong list.
Wally Moran says
Your pup is too important. This needs to be done first. Imagine how you would feel if you lost your buddy because you procrastinated on this job.
JD says
I am new to cruising and was wondering if this netting can be used to make small hammocks to hang inside the cabin to hold small provisions, like groceries and such? Thanks – JD
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, but it doesn’t cost much more to buy them already made: http://amzn.to/1irQkv7
JD says
Thanks much for your response. I really do appreciate receiving your newsletter. I hope to become a full time cruiser someday (when I finish Dave Ramsey’s plan to financial freedom). But until then I do overnight trips on my Com-Pac 25, and have found many of your tips helpful.
Chris says
How many feet of netting did you use?
Did you put any any along the stern or the few feet between the bow cleats and furler?
I’m thinking about adding netting to my Gemini to keep a crazy little dog from jumping in.
Carolyn Shearlock says
We used about 90 feet. We bought more, thinking we’d do the bow at least and maybe the stern, but decided not to as our dog has gotten a little older and not so inclined to run around!
Kisha Dean says
and owner without readers and too much rum
Tom Haupt says
I put it up on my Ericson 27 liveaboard when I got my little puppy Chopper (RIP)
Tom Haupt says
Tom Haupt says
The Boat Galley says
Tom Haupt What a sweetheart!
Ted Arisaka says
Great project. We used the line method (vs zip ties) and put a half hitch in over the top lifeline. Made a crude shuttle out of spare cardboard to speed up the weaving process. Short video here https://youtu.be/dvBqgTKxp6w
Ted Arisaka says
Here’s my cardboard shuttle I mention below
The Boat Galley says
Simple solutions that work!
Kathy Orr says
Thanks, Carolyn. We are about to sell our sailboat and buy a trawler, and now have a 74 lb German shepherd. Looking at options for her on the boat. Have you ever seen anyone using Pfifertex? I saw a picture of a boat with Pfifertex instead of netting and liked the look.
The Boat Galley says
I haven’t, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. It’s UV resistant.
Heather says
How are cleats handled? We have gaps in the teak toe rails on either side of the cleats (four cleats on each side of the boat), and I can’t quite envision how to install lifeline netting yet keep space for lines to be run around the cleats. Thanks for your insights.
Carolyn Shearlock says
We pass the lines through the netting and then put them around the cleats.
Heather says
So the netting is within the cleat knot? Have you noticed increased chaffing?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Not within. On ours, the cleat is inside the netting. We pass the line through the netting, then secure to the cleat as usual. No increased chafing. You may have a different arrangement, but I would think that you can put the line on the cleat while avoiding the netting.
Rhonda Dafoe says
Thank you for doing so much research on so many things we all need as cruisers… we are replacing our lifeline netting and you saved me so much time and $$$ ….. half the price of what I almost ordered on netting! Thank you again!
DONNA BLASZCAK says
I used sport netting (like soccer goalie netting). The company will make any width or length and will even re-enforce the top and bottom with 1/4 inch line, which works great on our trawler that had no lifelines. I chose black since it is easier on the eyes to see through. Its been in the Florida sun for 10+ yrs and is still in great shape! [https://www.ondecksports.com/ ]