Look at those lines.

As part of the "entertainment" on the boat, Mack does a lot of projects. Massive projects that require drills and take up space and leave behind tiny shards of metal. At the marina, it's less of an issue because, you know, there's plenty of electricity and dumpsters and shoes. But when you're out at a mooring ball or anchored (we haven't anchored yet because of a dickhead that stole our windlass/was hired to repair it and never returned our phone calls), it's a little more complicated. Since Mack loves his entertainment and won't settle for puzzles like a normal person, our recent trip to Catalina meant a complete replacement of the lifelines and their fittings.

As you can see he is being very scientific with his measuring. You can also see that the old life lines are coated in a UV-protectant plastic that was all cracked, that they're pretty saggy, and that the fittings are sort of patina-ed. Apparently that coating was all the rage in the olden times but now the racer sailing types prefer uncoated stainless steel because you can see if it's starting to corrode or become compromised. At least that what Mack told me and I was pretty engrossed in my Cats of the World puzzle so I doubt I got all the details right. 

He ordered 7x7 stainless steel wire at 3/16" diameter (he thinks) from Defender.com. He also got some SunCor toggles, turnbuckles, and locking pelican hooks. Which sound like items found in a British pub to me. All in, the switch cost about $400 and took about 2 hours, which he did in 15 minute bursts throughout the weekend. 

You tell me which is the toggle and which is the turnbuckle. The pelican one at least looks like a pelican. You'll have to trust me because I didn't take a picture since WE WERE ON A VACATION.

Kenutu looks a bit sleeker with the stainless lifelines and everything feels more heavy duty in general. Especially the locking pelican hooks, which I kind of hate because you have to have two hands to pull the pin to unlock them and if you're hands are full when you go to board you mutter DAMMIT every time you see them latched. They're also a lot heavier so if one were to swing around if someone forgot to latch it, it could leave a serious mark. We also have to be more careful about hanging things like clips and hooks on the line since if a different type of metal encounters the stainless steel it might make it rust. But, I feel like I could tight rope walk on these things and they won't budge, which is all that matters if a rogue wave tries to spill one of us overboard. 
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