After finishing the enclosure I started work on an easier, much smaller project; replacing the Lifesling bag. The Lifesling is a U-shaped float with a long line that attaches to the boat. It is used to recover a person who has gone overboard. (Never used, fortunately!) The whole thing is contained in a bag that attaches to the stern of the boat. Over the years we have owned it (on both WindChime and Breeze On), UV rays have caused the bag to deteriorate. Sailrite provides a YouTube video on how to make a replacement bag out of canvas.
One of the safety requirements for our trip to the Bahamas with the World Cruising Club is to have two lifebuoys. The inflatable SOS Danbuoy is one, our Lifesling is the other. In order for the Lifesling to meet Coast Guard requirements the instructions for use must be printed on the outside. To do this, I cut the instructions from one side of the old bag. (The instructions from the other side were too deteriorated to use.) I took them to the local copy shop, had them reduce, print and laminate a copy. I sewed the original and laminated copy to the front and back of the bag.
The entire project took about seven hours. I am quite happy with the results.
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| New bag with old instructions sewn on |
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| Laminated copies of instructions and logo. The Coast Guard requires that the name be on the bag. I put Velcro and a cut-out on the top of the flap to give us options on where the bag could be placed on the rail. |
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| Old bag. That is white duct tape holding the top together. |
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| Yuck! |
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| The SOS Danbuoy is our second lifebuoy. |
The next small project I tackled was lifeline covers for the stern lifeline. George likes to lean against the lifeline when he is driving. It is not comfortable to lean against the wire. We priced ready-made covers but they were ridiculously expensive. I decided to make some using canvas, zippers and pool noodles. I am told the pool noodles won't hold up. We shall see.
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