[Rhodes22-list] Life rails

[peter klappert]

I had them installed while the boat was being built. I'm in DC now but all my purchase records are in FL, and I can't recall the cost. I'm sorry. The cost if installed by GBI is listed with other options on the price list at the GBI website.

I was anxious about Isaac and was ready to drive back down, tho I couldn't have done much storm prep without help. Then I developed a cyst that limited movement & would have made the drive torture. I hired the guys who repaired the lightning damage (which involved lowering the mast twice). Very experienced sailors.

First they removed mast and anything loose on deck and put it all inside my house. They ended up strapping Aeolia to the lift cradle by running the straps behind the rails. Very strong crank-tight straps. The cradle was then tied off so it couldn't swing and hit pilings or dock.

I've read, and also been advised by Rhodies on the list, that a lift is the worst place for a sailboat in a hurricane, and I take that advice seriously. Unfortunately we had few other options. 

(Getting Aeolia on her trailer wasn't feasible. I considered lowering the cradle to the bottom of the canal, tying off the cables so they couldn't move, and then making big loose-fitting bowlines around the 4 pilings--loose enough to side up and down with a tidal surge. The bitter end of each line would have gone to either bow or stern cleats on Aeolia and the working ends would have been spring lines.)

I was emailed photos but can't seem to attach them. I may try mailing directly from the folder.

All the preps turned out to be unnecessary, I'm happy to say, but I plan to leave Aeolia as she is now until I return to FL in October.

P  

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Lowe" <rlowe at vt.edu>
To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 8:46:58 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Life rails

Peter,
What did these cost if I can ask?  Did you install them yourselves? - rob 


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of peter klappert
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 11:23 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Rhodes22-list Digest, Vol 2960, Issue 1


Hello Dave & welcome--

I got Stan's life rails because I don't have a great sense of balance (literally & metapohoricly). They make going forward a lot easier and steadier. They're also handy for hanging fenders and lots of other things. When Aeolia's on her lift it's a pretty wide step to get aboard from my dock--I'm not sure what routine I'd use if I didn't have the rails to grab. I wouldn't have spent the $$$ just for appearance sake, but there is also a vanity factor: the way they carry the lines of the bow pulpit back toward the stern rail looks pretty classy.

>>>>>o<<<<<

s/v Aeolia - 2012 Rhodes 22
Apollo Beach FL

>>>>>o<<<<<


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