Lifeline at the Gate?

[Vincentc]

Yesterday I was reminded just how rough it can be at a pass with an 2kt outgoing tide. At 8 kts I was probably running too slow and when we turned around she was rolling pretty bad with the steep following sea. I was on the FB when I heard a scream from my wife. I came down the ladder and was informed one of the chairs had gone overboard. I looked back and saw one of the varnished teak arm chairs complete with cushion and beach towel floating in our wake . I thought of the expense and work lost, but Marie gave me one of those, don't you think about going back to get it, looks and we continued on to protected water.

It amazes me that something as big as a chair could fit through the port gate with the handrail in position, and has me pondering the hazard of a person could likewise fall through the gate opening. Other than the gate openings, the rest of the perimeter is protected by the lifelines or the wind board.

Has anyone else thought about, or done anything about this?

Regards

 

[Boatsb]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like getting the chair was not an option without putting the wife on the swim platform in rough seas. maybe that is a good pool subject :0

OK now seriously do you have a dodgerboard door for the gates? Thats what most if of the MY's I see have.

 

[Avenger]

Blowboats have clips on the safety lines so they can be opened like a gate. I'm sure you could add something like that to yours.

As far as losing and not being able to recover things from the boat... sounds like a cockpit deficiency to me.

 

[Pascal]

on the MY the aft deck gate is at the stern so things arent' going to roll out...

on the sides, the gates are further up (by the PH doors) and have a chain with a hook where the life line isn't...

 

[Angela]

My gates outside my pilothouse have three chains, in addition to the teak hand rail which comes down and latches, which follow the same lines of the three life lines below the bow railing. I have 42" high handrails; most folks probably only have 2 sets of parallel lifelines and 2 sets of chains. I do like to have those latched anytime we are away from the dock.

 

[Pascal]

Your railing is inspected vessel grade... Standard hatt is one lifeline and one chain at the gates

 

[Vincentc]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like getting the chair was not an option without putting the wife on the swim platform in rough seas. maybe that is a good pool subject :0

OK now seriously do you have a dodgerboard door for the gates? Thats what most if of the MY's I see have.

Looking closely it appears that the dodgerboard used to extend one stantion forward of the gates but has been removed. There are still attachment points. Perhaps there used to be a dodgerboard for the gate but only the aft gate has one now. I think I will fit a chain. Might be something more than a chair next time.

 

[sgharford]

Below is old picture I cropped showing gates on my 43DC. They open toward the stern via riveted piano hinge mounted on outside. "Door Button" latches - 2 of them mounted top and bottom on interior forward (bow) section of door - hold door closed against a 2" strip of aluminum that is riveted to stationary forward section dodgerboard (interior side) that extends about 1/2" past fixed dodgerboard into doorway opening. This 2" strip runs vertical length of fixed dodgerboard and acts as door stop, protects leading edge, and gives the door buttons something to rest against. There is another single door button mounted halfway up exterior stern dodger board to hold it open. The fixed dodgerboard towards bow extends about 4 feet past gate opening which is handy as you can coil your dock lines in this area without worrying it will fall overboard and get caught in props. I'll post more pictures if you are interested in details, but will have to wait until I get back to boat over weekend. I thought all 43DCs came this way.

 

[fissioneng]

My 43 MY has chains. See below.

 

[Vincentc]

Thanks for the photos, they explain things.
One of the PO's apparently removed the dodgerboards and hinged gate door. The MY changed the DC layout and incorporated a chain and extended the lifeline to the stantion next to the gate.

I am thinking about combining the two and extending the lifeline aft to the gate and using a hinged door for the gate. However, I wonder if the gate would be strong enought to hold back the weight of a person falling against it?

Any idea what the a material used for the dodgerboard is?

One more project to put on the list.

 

[sgharford]

I believe Sams sells Dodgerboard material. My gate is made out of same stuff used to wrap stern stanchions.