Knot in Lifesling bridle?

[k7cej]

I am gratified by the scholarly discussion my original post has generated--thanks to all who have contributed. Although I appreciate the various knots that have been advised, I am unlikely to be able to consult Ashley in the middle of a rescue (even though the bible always resides on board).

I have elected to replace the large loop formed by the knot in question with a loop of Spectra/Dyneema of the proper length to reach the rail on my boat when attached to the Lifesling and MOB in the water alongside. I made a loop of 1/4" spectra single-braid with a locked brummel splice, passing the loop through the D-rings on the Lifesling and through a small diameter eye-splice in the polypropylene retrieval line, also made with a locked brummel. I think this is an elegant solution, albeit one customized for the freeboard of my boat.

I did consider the rope on rope chafe on the retrieval line, but remember that this line has a relatively low force on it in use, and even practicing the quickstop and retireval will not get that many uses. The spectra loop is well suited to hoisting the MOB with accompanying higher loads (big man, wet = 300 lbs). And I have absolute confidence in the splices, which are being used in their expected orientations, as opposed to ring-loading a large eye-splice.

Regarding liability, I have written to Chuck Hawley at West Marine, the manufacturer, as well as the president of The Sailing Foundation (who was most helpful in getting us the training materials); he is heading in from a cruise and I expect him to look at this some more in the next few weeks.

[k7cej]

I have been in contact with Chuck Hawley and others at WM as well as The Sailing Foundation, and they agreed that the construction needs improvement. I am convinced they are serious and will continue to work them them. I will let the Spartalk forum know what their final decision is.

FWIW, I have decided that the original knot is a bowline tied as though rotated so one leg of the loop were the standing part. Wierd, huh?

Here is a photo of how I reworked my LIfesling retrieval line:

Here's more detail:

Functional, I think.

[Dan Lehman]

Originally Posted by k7cej

... I am unlikely to be able to consult Ashley in the middle of a rescue (even though the bible always resides on board).
I have elected to replace the large loop formed by the knot in question with a loop of Spectra/Dyneema ...

Oh, really: are you able to do THIS in the middle of a rescue?!

I have been in contact with Chuck Hawley and others at WM as well as The Sailing Foundation, and they agreed that the construction needs improvement. I am convinced they are serious and will continue to work them them. I will let the Spartalk forum know what their final decision is.

Seems it would be best to let them know BEFORE they make a decision,
since you might get better knot advice than is currently available,
as ...

FWIW, I have decided that the original knot is a bowline tied as though rotated so one leg of the loop were the standing part. Wierd, huh?

!???
Yes, wierd that after the knot has been explained above to be the bowline
that you "decided" something contrary. Please re-read what I posted; you should
be able to reconstruct the BOWLINE with tail seized of the original (and, in fact,
you should be able to confirm this via the makers and other Lifeslings, which
have the knot). You are wrong about the knot that you presented here, given
your remarks about which ends go where (S.Part eye leg, Tail eye leg, & S.Part).
Again: the knot was a bowline, with the tail turned back and seized to the S.Part;
the knot was deformed upon ring-loading which apparently is an expected
loading for the structure.
There are KNOTS to remedy this; I suggested one above.

Another comes to mind immediately: the Offset Ring Bend eye knot.
You can see it here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfxv4svj_0f8xtcfdt&hl=en

Thus, when ring-loaded, you have a pure Ring Bend. QED.
And both this eye knot and the #1029 one orient the tail so that it can
be easily seized to an eye leg, if that's desired; unlike in the present
case where it's seized via an awkward turn to the S.Part, there should
be less load on the seizing in these cases (and the knots are more
stable).

But there might be better knots of a similar tact; e.g., one can make
a suitable bowlinesque knot to do the trick, if untying the knot is a
desired characteristic for the knot (it might not be).

--dl*
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