Build Your Own Wooden Boat

To build your own wooden boat will open new doors. You will have started participating in a great hobby and also learn a whole set of new skills that can lead to a bright new future as a professional boat builder.

You don’t have to live near the sea to build your own wooden boat in which you can one day cross oceans. I know of many sailors who were farmers or miners and lived on farms or in small towns far from the ocean who built their “dream boats”. These people through hard work and determination used every opportunity they could find to complete their special projects and then had the courage to go and live their dream. Some of these guys who were real craftsmen at heart built the most beautiful crafts. When launch day finally arrives it is for many of these people the first time that they have ever been on the water. Imagine the self-doubt many of these men and women must have gone through when confronted with the ocean for the first time. A few give up but the majority take on this next chapter in their lives with tremendous enthusiasm and are rewarded with the greatest prize which is turning their dream into reality. They also use their boat building skills to work on other peoples yachts to earn money, as they cruise the world.

Starting Small

My dream started by first building a  plywood canoe, then a small clinker rowing boat and after that a glass fibre 16ft speed/fishing boat. By the time I was ready to construct my 34 foot wooden sailboat I had learnt many boat building skills that helped me to successfully complete my dream boat. While building my first projects I collected many hand tools and electric tools. Talking to and watching other people do similar boat building projects  gave me the courage to start and to  build my own wooden boat. I would continually tell myself that if they can do it then so can I.

Keep Focused                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Although my boat took 10 years to complete I never lost  focus. I knew that one day our kids would move on and then my wife and I would have a golden opportunity to go cruising. Building the boat was never an obsession that got in the way of our family life but we would work on her whenever there was time. During this building phase I slowly gathered all kinds of necessary boating equipment such as anchors, rope, chain, winches and about 2 years before completion, the mast.  When it was my birthday and because everyone new that boating was my passion, I would receive all kinds of great and useful gifts which included sailing books, cruising guides and navigation instruments etc. These are all expensive items you will need when going cruising and getting them over a period of time before you are ready to leave helps a hang of a lot with the budget.

Cheap Cruising                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

It’s expensive to get started but once you are on the open sea or cruising the islands, life is pretty cheap. If your boat is well constructed then this will keep your maintenance bills low. Also if you can live without the luxuries of living in marinas and eating out every night you will cut out what can be the highest cost for most cruisers. It’s a lot more fun being at anchor in a beautiful bay with a few other boats than in a crowded noisy marina.

When able we would try to buy our stores from shops and markets where the locals did their shopping. This can lead to big savings because you will not be paying tourist prices. Ask other cruisers or even the locals where the best places are to shop. Most people no matter where you find yourself in the world are only too happy to help as long as you treat them with respect.

Fish For Food                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

If you love to catch and eat your own fish then here is good news. Everywhere we tried to catch fish we were 90% successful. We only use cheap homemade lures and often had to put our line away because we were catching far more than we could eat. In every ocean we caught big and small fish on the same size lure which included mahi mahi, all kinds of tuna, wahoo, mackerel and many more. Because we had no freezer the fresh fillets were first prepared as sushi  or sashimi, then fried in batter for that night’s dinner and then cold for lunch and the following dinner. If the fish was big then the remainder was pickled which lasted a long time.

Inspiration                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

I hope this inspires you to get started with your dream boat, big or small. Get a decent set of boat plans and start off with a few good electric wood working tools. It’s amazing how quickly things progress once you have made up your mind to do it. If you need a little help to keep the enthusiasm high or if things are a little tough then go and visit your marine store to see what’s new. You can also go and visit another boat builder for inspiration. If I found myself feeling a bit flat I would take the dinghy on the lagoon and putter around the cruising boats on moorings or at anchor or perhaps take a stroll through the marina.  If I was lucky enough to talk to a real live sailor living the dream then that would boost my spirits sky high  as  it would reinforce my belief that” the dream”  can happen.

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I used wooden boat plans to build my own wooden 34 foot sailboat and then enjoyed her for more than 20 years living on board and cruising the world oceans. So what inspired me to follow MY dream?

When I was 14 years old my father suggested we build a 16 foot wooden fishing boat from oak and ply wood, covered with resin and fibre glass. When our plans arrived we had to choose a design that would be easy to build using only hand tools. This was the beginning of my love affair with boat building. Skills I learned includes bending timber using steam, how to sand, how to use resin and fibre  glass, make all kinds of wooden joints and so much more. Little did I realise at the time that my dream of going sailing on my own yacht one day had just begun to get real. These were the first and most important stepping stones that would  lead me on to a fantastic adventure.

I was introduced by a friend to MyBoatPlans and was very impressed because it is such a comprehensive collection of 518 boat plans, 40 videos and about 500 pages of boat building guides. Having built small and large wooden boats myself I know that with the wrong information it can be very frustrating. I decided to write a review on this product because I think it delivers what most boat builders need to tackle and complete their projects.

So What Is MyBoatPlans?

These are easy to read step by step blueprints of over 500 boats that include video lessons on boat building that have been created by expert Master Boat Builder Martin Reid. With more than 31 years of boat building experience his MyBoatPlans offers a simple and user-friendly system that will enable you to construct any type of boat no matter at what level your wood working skill are. MyBoatPlans shows how easy it is for anybody to build any one of these 500 plus different types of boats that range from beautiful wooden canoes and kayaks to complex designs like a smart looking cabin cruiser.

MyBoatPlans 518 Boat Plans Package

The “MyBoatPlans” system was developed by long time boat builder and carpenter Martin Reid.                                                                                                                                                                        

Martin says he can show you an easy way to build boats faster, easier and cheaper when using his boat plans and after studying all the cool stuff  his boat collection coarse offers I am inclined to agree.

The Pros:

Below are some of the points I was really impressed with.

-It’s every man’s dream

This beautiful product is for anyone who dreams of building a boat. If you are looking for a project to help you get through those long winter months this may be it. When I started building my first small wooden boats none of this kind of technical information was available and I use to waste a lot of time trying to find answers to problems I would encounter. This wooden boat plans product makes it easy to solve problems because the information you may require  is available on your laptop or if you have the DVD option on the TV screen  in the workshop.

-Such a wide choice

Even with so much content everything is laid out in an easy and concise manner making it easy to navigate thereby helping and encouraging the builder to complete the project. If you can solve problems quickly as you encounter them then the project goes ahead at full steam, effortlessly.                                                                                                                                                                                   

-Stepping stone

If you are looking for an opportunity to become a boat builder or make a career change then this product will give you the tools to fulfil that dream.  You can find plans in this collection forfishing boats, sailboats, bass boats, row boats, kayaks and canoes. There are many more.

There is nothing more satisfying than building your own boat as a hobby.

-Full support

Martin offers full support so that in an unlikely event you do hit a snag you can contact him for advice. There are also 5 FREE Fantasic High Quality Bonuses that are offered with the complete boat plan collection. The Free Membership and the 3 D Cad Design Software which is simple to use to design your own special boat, are I think  fantastic value.

The Cons:

- It can take a while to download                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

With over 900 megabytes of great content the product does take some time to download if you have a slow Internet connection.  If you do struggle to download then a great option is to go for the DVD edition that is available in the member’s area. The DVD’s would also make a great gift for someone keen on starting a wooden boat building project.

- Mega yacht design

If you are looking for mega yacht designs and plans for professional boat builders then this product may not be for you.

Conclusion

In my view MyBoatPlans is really a great collection of plans for anyway you look at it, for beginners as well as seasoned builders alike. It offers fantastic value for money considering the one-time price you pay for such an extensive system.

Wooden Boat Festival to celebrate all things maritime Peninsula Daily - Wooden Boat Festival to celebrate all things maritime. Peninsula Daily. It’s a wonderful community gathering said Jake Beattie executive director of the Northwest Maritime Center which is home to the Wooden Boat Foundation and the Wooden Boat Festival. It has an incredible electric energy Beattie said. When it is and more.…

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I have chosen some popular cruising books for sailors that we have in our own yachts library. You should never go to sea without at least  a few of these informative cruising books  because they offer such a huge amount of information  and come  with simple “how to fix” instructions. Wherever you are boating  you should  select the ones that will suit you best so you can enjoy total freedom of stressless sailing, just like the dude in this video!

Survival Books

 Alard Coles Heavy Weather Sailing updated by Peter Bruce is on the shelf next to my bunk so that I can constantly update myself with its fantastic content, especially before embarking on a long ocean  passage.

 Heavy Weather Tactics by Earl R Hinz is a favorite of mine and I read it to stop me from getting complacent when it is all is going a bit to smoothly.  You must have this book if  sailing off- shore.

 Handling Storms At Sea and How To Sail Around The World. These two  books by Hal Roth need no introduction and are rated 5 stars, plus some more  by me.

 World Cruising Routes  by Jimmy Cornell. If this book is not on board when planing to go on a long distance cruise then don’t leave until it is.

 Storm Tactics Handbook and Storm Tactics by Lin and Larry Pardy. I met Larry and Lin Pardy many years ago when they were still sailing around the world on their engine-less, 24ft yacht ” Saraffyn” at the Knysna Yacht Club in South Africa. These ultra experienced sailors have written some of the most highly rated modern sailing books available today.

Mechanical and Electrical Books

 Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines by Nigal Calder are the yachtsman’s bibles. Every sailor you will  meet on your travels will constantly be referring to them to help solve technical problems. These two books are “must haves’ and placed on the boat where they will be in easy reach.

Cruising Books

 Get Ready To Cross Oceans  For a wealth of how to go cruising information you can confidently begin with this Lin and Larry Pardy’s book

 A Rule of the Road book is a must at your chart table. It’s also good  to see if you had made the right decision to avoid a possible collision.

Seamanship Books

If you click on the above link it will take you to Best CoolBoating Books where you will find a great selection of seamanship books that will help everyone become  better sailors. The most reviewed books are the popular choices.

 Chapmans Piloting & Seamanship now in its 66th edition or The Annapolis Book of Seamanship 3rd edition are the ones to begin with.

 Weemes and Plath ships log and a guest log books. I wish that  I had bought  better quality log books. Some of my older ones managed to get wet and are now falling apart. These records of your boating history and adventures is something you will always treasure, so get a good quality ones.

Cruising Guides

 Sailors Guide To The Windward Islands and The Cruising guide to the Leeward Islands by Chris Doyle are a must if you are headed for the Caribbean.

 Cruising Guide To The Virgin Islands by Nancy and Simon Scott  if the Virgin Islands are your destination.

There are many more to choose from if you CLICK on Cruising Guides.

Navigation Cruising Tools 

Buy some reasonable quality navigation tools because over the years they do get abused. Thanks to a little super (always have a tube onboard) mine have lasted a lifetime.

I wish that when I started cruising  I  had most of these books in my library. I only discovered many of them through other sailors recommendations. Often I required advice on a boating problem and not being the most technical guy, many took ages to solve. However as my library increased so did my problem solving skills.

Some more interesting content:-

Sailing Knot secrets Tie the mighty King of Joinery Sail World

Sail World. Sailing Knot secrets Tie the mighty King of Joinery Sail World. Add this powerhouse sailing knot to your list of best knots to know aboard your small sailboat today Anytime you John Jamieson is also the author and illustrator of the book Seamanship Secrets published by International Marine McGraw-Hill.…

For books on fishing go to http://trollingmotorsreview.com/trolling-motor-fishing-books/ and also learn more about electric trolling motors for your dinghy.

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The Premium Bosuns Chair is one item that you can definitely trust your life with when you have to go up the mast. I have been up and down masts many times using all kinds of  bosun chairs but for me the premium wrap around type is the one I use and recommend. Just like your  ultimate premium safety harness this bosuns’ chair is another item on the boat you must be able to have 110% faith in.

 The  most important thing is  feeling comfortable at the top of the mast when a gust of wind causes it to sway about  or the boat starts rolling a little alarmingly  in the wake of an inconsiderate dinghy operator who has just raced by. 

Most bosun chairs seem to be made for the quick up and down fixes at the top of the mast but I know from experience that you always end up there a lot longer than was originally intended. For most of us it can be quite a scary business and one you have to get used to it all over again every time you need to go up, usually because of the big time lapse since your last visit. Even getting to the first spreaders that may only be 20 foot above the deck can be quite intimidating and I usually need to acclimatise there before venturing further up the mast.

You  may CLICK HERE To Check Out A Premium Bosuns Chair   

How Is This Bosun’s Seat  Constructed

• To help you feel secure  the premium bosun chairs have full padded backs designed not only for support but most importantly it increases your level of comfort.
• The 3/4 inch wood core and high-density closed cell foam seat prevents the straps biting into your waist  making it impossible to easily move about.
• I love that for added safety the load-bearing webbing is made of one continuous length and also that the tubular load lifting nylon straps are color contrasted for easy identification. This is especially handy at night when you may be feeling a little nervous.
• The detachable tool bag with its multi- pockets really works well and helps prevent you from having to continually go up and down the mast to collect the tools and fittings you require. Most bosun chairs have built in pockets but you can’t get your hands in to access your tools because your weight in the chair pulls the pockets shut. You now find yourself doing all kinds of tricks, some dangerous to get hold of them. Not good.
• Many sailors will not go up the mast themselves but rather employ other people to do the job for them. This is mainly because of a bad experience they have had. Often the reason is that the bosuns chair they used was simply not up to scratch for the job. Usually the stitching which has rotted or the poor design and construction is what fails.

Some Pro Premium Seat Comments

Attractive Design, Quality Construction, Very Secure, Great Value, describes this product. The time spent up the mast is done in comfort thereby helping to reducing any stress you may have felt before starting your climb.

Sailors who have used the chair for the first time agree that it is top of the range  boating safety equipment.

Some Cons For The Premium Chair

Not many sailors will fault it other than those  experienced riggers who are happy with what they are using or use mast climbing gear.

The premium chair may seem a little bulky but that is a tiny price to pay in exchange for the security it gives you.

If there were comments about poor construction I would neither buy nor recommend it.

When next you visit your yacht, carefully  inspect your chair for any faults because your life depends on it. If you have ANY doubts about it, usually it is the stiching that fails first, please throw it away and buy a marine proven product. They are not expensive and if like me you find yourself having to go up the mast while cruising in the middle of the ocean in rough conditions, the job will be a whole lot easier if your bosuns chair is one that can be relied on.

If you like this bosuns chair then CLICK  HERE To Buy Your Premium Bosuns Chair from West Marine the largest online store that is a safe and secure website to visit.

Orders over $99.00 are sent freight free and also check out their lowest online price guarantee

 News:-

 Life on board a Talley’s trawler Nelson Mail

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Since you are placing your total trust in these safety products, they had better be the best. When the boat is pounding through large waves and the resulting green water sweeping the decks is doing its utmost to drag you over the side, wearing the ideal safety harness and tether will give you the boost of confidence needed to complete difficult tasks under trying conditions.

But what makes an ideal harness and tether and what should you look out for to be sure you have found the right one? Because every sailor is built differently (men and women) the perfect harness and tether probably does not exist, but like most quality products they do come pretty close. 

 My Ideal Safety Harness

•  For me the harness must strong, lightweight and constructed of at least 50mm wide smooth webbing.
• Two non magnetic s/s D- rings are a must, and when the harness is under pressure there can be no chafe points.
• Large reflective SOLAS-grade tape should be stitched on the shoulders.
• Also two pouches are needed so that a whistle, strobe light or flare can be carried.
• For easy inspection the stitching and webbing must be a different color. I like the harness to be bright orange or yellow.
• It would have to be hassle free and easy to slip on and off, especially in an emergency or when dog tired.

 Personal PFD

 Harnesses with built in automatic or manual inflating PFD’s (personel flotation device) are also very popular. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and which one is better is a personal choice. Make sure it is USCG approved.

 My Ideal Safety Tether

•  At the harness end a quick release s/s snap shackle with a strong cotter ring is preferred.
•  A release line with plastic toggles would be fitted to the cotter pin so they will enable you to get a good grip when releasing.
• At the boat end a good brand s/s snap hook with locking gate is a must.
• A tether with a 3ft and 6ft leg/safety line including some shock cord built in for ease of moving about on large boats is the way to go. I
• If you usually sail small yachts a single 6ft tether is fine.
• Over laps would be about 3 inches long with the stitching a contrasting color to the webbing.

The Weak Link

 Naturally, even if you are wearing the best harness with a single or double tether ( like any chain being only as strong as its weakest link), they will fail to save you if don’t secure the tether to proven strong points. Therefore well secured jack lines and strong pad eyes should always be your first choice to clip on to.

 Click HERE To Buy A” Child” West Marine Standard Safety Tether.

Ultimate Safety Harness

Child Harness

A child harness alternative child tether child leash British English walking reins is a safety restraint for walking with children.…

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The Safety at Sea committee of the Sailing Foundation in Seattle, Washington decided in 1998 to conduct an objective study into the common safety of harnesses and tethers used in sailing.
The dynamic test results were the most dramatic because 8 percent of the 21 harnesses and 47 percent of the 21 tethers that were then available on the market, failed the test.

Water Test

Here a Crew Overboard wearing different brand harnesses with, 3ft and 6ft safety tethers were towed through the water. The reaction of the wearers was noted, i.e. if they were comfortable, their ability to breathe easily when towed and also how easy it was to re board the yacht. It was also noted how easily the snap shackle at the harness could be released when under load.

Static Test

The  static test is where the examiner conducted a visual inspection of the harness and tether. Here comfort, ease of strap adjustment, the width of load bearing straps, magnetic properties and the weight of the harness, was recorded. The workmanship and fabrication of these items was carefully examined.

Another phase of static testing and trying to keep it as real as possible in summer or winter sailing weather, crew were timed as to how long it took them to don the different harnesses with and without foul weather gear. Weight of harness, degree of difficulty strapping it on, ease of adjustment, pinch points, uncomfortable strap rubbing etc. all came under their consideration.

Another test executed was one where the wearer was hoisted by his harness off the ground with a dingy hoist. Points noted were again ease of breathing and what happened with the harness when the wearers raised their arms when trying to climb back onboard.

The Dynamic Load Test

The dynamic load test was done to see how the harness and its tether would react when attached to a 220lb dummy and dropped 6 foot 6 inches. To eliminate the tether as a variable when testing a harness, each harness had its own brand new tether attached. The same when testing tethers, a same type of new harness was used so as to eliminate the harness as a variable. To improve the shock loading qualities of nylon webbing, the tethers     and harnesses were first soaked in water.

Buy With Confidence

Since these tests were conducted back in 1998, the quality, comfort and safety of these product have been greatly improved and well known brands may be bought with confidence.

Here is the link to the  pdf. Safety at Sea – Harness and Tether Study

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5 Ways Of Accidentally Falling Overboard – Be Boat Smart

Many people out boating never consider how easy it is to go overboard until they unexpectedly find themselves in the water. Some C.O.B (crew over board) will remain relaxed and wait to be rescued, while others will panic thereby increasing their chances of drowning. Hopefully they are wearing a life preserver and the conditions are calm. Even if practicing good seamanship, it is still very easy to accidentally go over the side. Here are 5 ways of accidentally falling overboard to be aware of.

Being Hit By The Boom

One often reads about the crew or passengers on sailing yachts being hit by the boom and knocked into the water. This happens on smaller cruising and racing boats where the boom is low. An accidental jibe catches many unwary sailors off- guard with the swinging boom causing serious injury and even unconsciousness. If they are not wearing a tether and harness when they fall into the water, things can turn fatal.

Landing A Big Fish

Boaters can easily be pulled over the side and into the water while trying to gaff a big fish. By the time the fish is brought alongside the vessel it is usually perceived to be exhausted. After gaffing and then trying to lift the fish on board, a sudden violent movement by the fish can easily upset ones balance and overboard you go. It’s amazing how many people will not let go of the gaff although it seems the obvious thing to do.

Relieving Oneself

Men relieving themselves while not tethered to the boat can be a reason for their unexplained dissapearances. Balancing against the rail or lifeline with both hands occupied, it is very easy to go over the side if the boat lurches unexpectedly. If they  carried some electronic alarm that could get the attention of the crew, or a device that shuts down the engine  if motoring, they may still have a chance of being rescued. However, if sailing alone the chances of recovery are slim. Rather pee in a bottle or bucket and then send its contents over the side.

Unexpected Movement

A sudden unexpected movement by the boat often helps sailors over the side. The old phrase that is still recognized today as good seamanship,” one hand for the boat and one hand for yourself” is still without doubt one of the best safety rules. Sailors have gone overboard because they thought they were still clipped onto the jack line or a strong point. It sometimes happens that when moving about on deck and under a bit of stress while attending to an emergency, the sailor did not clip on correctly and pitches overboard.

Don’t become complacent, always check to make sure you are secure, and have one hand holding onto the boat.

Losing Control      

It is easy to loose control of any sailboat, motorboat or even the dinghy. As you are not secured with a seat belt, if the vessel strikes something or suddenly veers off- coarse, it is very natural to be sent flying over the side. I once hit a sand bar on a 34ft sailboat doing about 5 knots. Not wearing a harness at the time, the sudden and totally unexpected impact sent me flying right out of the cockpit. Luckily my wife who was holding on in the cabin at the time  managed to cut the engine and  preventing more damage to the keel.

Going fast or slow, if you are not holding on over the side you will probably go.

News

USS Cincinnati SSN-693

100 km off the east coast of Florida who had been in the water for 22 hours after falling overboard from the Finnish freighter Finnbeaver.…

Ask a Vet Taking a cat on a boat CapitalGazette.com

 Ask a Vet Taking a cat on a boat. CapitalGazette.com. The first important precaution you need to take is to prevent her from falling overboard. Put up protective nylon netting attached to Make sure she has a microchip in case she ever accidentally gets off the boat at shore. Be careful about her.…

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The West Marine Standard Safety Tether continues to be a very popular choice among yachtsmen and yachtswomen. These test proven, upgraded safety tethers,  include the latest technology snap hook  at the boat end and a quick release snap shackle at the chest end.

The single tether is constructed of 1 inch wide, nylon lock stitched webbing,  and has a breaking strength of 4500 pounds.

The overall length is 6 feet and comes with a one year warranty.

The Sailing Foundation

In 1998 the West Marine 6′ Tether With a snap shackle and Gibb Hook underwent dynamic testing by The Sailing Foundation – Safety At Sea Studies – Harness and Tether Study.  Major funding was provided by the Bonnell Cove Foundation. 

The foundation had no hesitation in its recomendation: “this is a good basic tether”  High commendation indeed.

• The white stitching on medium blue webbing allows for easy inspection.
• They used 25 of this model for their harness testing, and none failed.

Please Click HERE To View A Standard Safety Tether from West Marine

47%  Failure

In general comments on tethers the Sailing Foundation states that 47% of tethers tested, failed in such away as to endanger the wearer.

The West Marine  double safety tether with its stainless steel hardware and new snap hook, reduces the risk of accidental release even further, helping to give sailors absolute confidence in their safety when working on deck.

Review

Customers review these safety tethers very favourably, except for one who thinks they are to pricey. The response from a satisfied owner was that you get what you pay for and when it comes to safety, then this tether is reasonably priced.

This harness tether is your lifeline on board. Click HERE To Buy A West Marine Standard Safety Tether . FREE Shipping for orders over $99.00

Also available at West Marine is a standard tether for children. Click HERE To Buy A” Child” West Marine Standard Safety Tether.

Single-handed sailing

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The West Marine Single Safety Tether is an ISAF approved safety product that meets all their specifications. These safety proven single and double safety tethers with their positive aluminium safety hook and stainless steel snap shackle have been well tested with glowing endorsements.

Safety Tests

The Sailing Foundation Harness and Tethers Study was funded in 1999 by the Bonnel Cove Foundation . Tests on all brands of these safety products were done and West Marine snap hooks, snap shackles and tethers passed all static tests.

Go to http://offshore.ussailing.org  to view their Safety at Sea Study if you want to see more. It gives interesting  test result information. Please read the manufacture’s response at the end of the report where it is clearly stated that any malfunctions found during the tests have been corrected,  making their products safer than ever before.  

You may Click HERE For Your Single Safety Tether from West Marine

Overload

New regulations that came in force on the 1st of January 2001, states that any safety line purchased after this date must have a brightly colored flag embedded in the stitching as a visual indicator. If the tether is overloaded the flag will show.
A force of about 900lb is required to overload the tether.If a tether has been overloaded, it must be replaced.

Positive Locking

On West Marine tethers, positive locking snap hooks are used. These hooks cannot accidentally release themselves but must be disengaged manually. Never use a plain snap hook because they are known to have freed themselves, even under load.

On both single and double tether, the boat end aluminum hook has a double action gate that locks when closed, yet is still easy to open. The stainless steel snap shackle at the chest is not difficult to release, even when under load.

Also the 3 and 6 foot retractable lead allows for good mobility while still hooked on.

 West Marine IASF specification single safety tethers have been given great reviews by satisfied customers, rating them with 5 stars.

• Some Pros
• Durable
• Unobtrusive
• Well made
• Easy to use
• Quality gates

Be Prepared

Always carry a knife in case you need to cut yourself free. It is possible (although unlikely) to get trapped by your tether, so be prepared for the worst scenario and then pray it never happens.

To stay connected to the boat, Click HERE To Buy Your Single Safety Tether from West Marine. FREE Shipping for items over $99.00

The West Marine Double Safety Tether  used on sailboats is an ISAF approved safety product that meets all their specifications. These tried and tested tethers with their positive locking snap hooks come highly recommended.

Regulation Flag

If a safety tether has been over loaded, please replace it as a matter of urgency.

Click HERE To Check Out The Double Safety Tethers at West Marine

Snap Hooks

On West Marine double safety tethers, only positive locking snap hooks are used. These hooks cannot accidentally release themselves but must be disengaged manually. Never use a plain snap hook since they are known to have freed themselves, even under extreme load.

Safety At Sea Study

In 1999 The Sailing Foundation Harness and Tethers Study funded by the Bonnel Cove Foundation was conducted. Tests on all makes of  tethers and harness  was  conducted and West Marine snap hooks, snap shackles and tethers passed all static tests. Go to http://-offshore.ussailing.org view the Safety at Sea Study if you want to see more.

Quick Review

West Marine IASF specification double safety tethers have been described as “Awesome”,”Very Pleased”,”Easy to use”, by satisfied customer reviews. These tethers are rated 4.5 to 5 stars.

Single/Double

Whether you prefer a tether with a single or double safety hook, is simply a matter of personal choice.
On both these tethers the boat end aluminum hook  has a double action gate  that locks when closed, yet is still easy to open. The stainless steel snap shackle at the chest is not difficult to release, even when under load.

Tethers can get tangled or wrapped around gear on the boat, so it is advisable to always carry a knife on you in case of an emergency and you need to cut yourself free.

To stay connected to the boat Click HERE To Buy Your Double Safety Tether from West Marine. FREE Shipping for orders over $99.00

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