Have you installad an Lifeline Netting on your M26x

[m26roy]

I will have new baby on board this summer and I want to protect Mathieu to go on water by error. Somebody have installed an Lifeline Netting on a M26x.

There's no place to fix the net on the bottom. Any tips?. Maybe installa apeace of wood on each side of the cokpit?

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

On my former sailboat (an O'Day 272LE), I had netting installed all around and it was a good idea to keep my kids in. But that boat also had 2 feet more of beam, side decks, better lifelines, and a much larger foredeck than a Mac26. The tops of the nets were woven in with the top lifeline (it had double lifelines all the way around) which was quite easy as their were pelican hooks on all the lifelines. I used 1/4 inch line to weave areas that could not thread onto the lifelines. This also works for holding the bottom down, you just run the line inbetween stanchion bases and weave it through the bottom of the net.

When I traded my O'day for a MacX last summer, I automatically assumed that I would put lifeline netting on the new boat and I even went to the store and bought it. However, after pondering over it for a few weeks, I decided to return the netting to the store because it just didn't seem worth it anymore...I never installed any of it. This is for a few reasons:

1. The Mac doesn't have sidedecks so lifeline netting on the cabin top would be pretty much useless since it wouldn't hold anyone in.
2. When you trailer the boat, you have to put the spreaders under the lifelines, this would be a major PITA if there were netting there...same with trying to pin the forestay with nets in the way. My O'day always was in the water and it had no trailer.
3. The stanchions and lifelines are much shorter on a Mac than the nice beefy double lifelines on the O'day. Probably a good 6 inches shorter which would make them more useless for any kids much over 30 inches tall (and yours will grow faster than you think .
4. I don't feel the foredeck of the Mac is safe for children...at least not young children like I have. In other words, I don't want them up there at all...netting would kind of contradict that mandate. However, they have found that it is a blast to stand on the V-berth and look out the front hatch. This is much safer and many times there are two kids there, sometimes three. This has become a very good substitute from standing on the O'day foredeck like they used to do.
5. So, IMO, the only valid place on the MacX to put netting is the lifelines at the cockpit. This is probably a good idea, however, since I frequently board the boat from there, I ended up not putting them there either.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The X can be netted. We had nets on our previous venture 21. The staunchions we added to is were the same height as the ones on the X. The height of these lines is pretty much useless to an adult, but to kids 5 and under it's a reasonably high barrier.

The lifeline obviously gets woven through the top on the net. If you remove the shackle at the end it will pull out from the stauchions and be easy to weave. Because most of the netting is for taller lifelines you have to horizontally stretch it out some so it becomes shorter in height. At the bottom I ran a 1/4" line stretched tight and tied off at the base of each staunchion. I would move the attachment point of the lines on the bow pulpit to the top from it's current low position. You may get some interference with the sail shape, but it will make the bow more secure. I'd stop the nets at the second bow support and leave the very front open for pinning the forestay and anchoring. Getting the spreaders unser the lifelines could be a challenge. The very early 26X's, mine included had pivoting spreader mounts rather than the current fixed sockets. This let them swin back right along side the mast rather than having to go under the lifelines. Maybe your dealer or the factory could come up with a set of these early brackets.

Another lifeline choice is to add sleeves that slip over the current staunchions and extend their height with a second lifeline above the first. I've seen this on one boat. They also boated with 3 small boys, but they did not use netting.

We've had our kids on the water from when the oldest, now 13 was just 3. The others have been out on the boat all their lives, now 6 and 9. I can't say the netting on the early boat really made any saves, but it does add a comfort level for the parents. In a way I think it contibuted to the confidence our kids now enjoy. Because it was there we set no rules about where they could go on the boat. This led to them learning to make there way around with ease on the old boat, and when we got the X we felt no need to limit their freedom. They have been scrambling all over the X since they were 3, 6, and 9 without any concerns. In 10 years not one has ever gone in the drink.

I can't say I agree with limiting where they can go, even the little ones. I feel the X foredeck is not that different from any small boat foredeck. I'd rather have my kids learn to have confidence while under way. I often send them forward with tasks, hang a fender, attach a line, etc. Even the little one can do these jobs. They are surprisingly sure footed, even in socks. There are often situations where we need more hands on deck than just my wife and I. I believe in encouraging them to be bold and take a few risks. If they go splash we'll go back and get them.

While netting adds a nice comfort level, I would also recommend you skip it. Put a good life jacket on them, maybe consider a tether and harness with jacklines, teach them to always have one hand for the boat at all times, and let them learn to be good little sailors. You never know which one will be the bowman on a winning Americas Cup boat. Practice MOB drills, pick a nice day and have them fall off on purpose so they are not surprised by the experience.

[Rob (1992 26S)]

When my kid was a few weeks old this past year we were sailing, no problem because she was in her bucket seat and couldn't crawl yet. Last week we went sailing (she's 10 months now) and we had to keep holding on to her, which was difficult, especially when heeling over and trying to control the lines at the same time.

My father-in-law gave me a couple of old tennis court nets that he had and now I'm going to try to install them over the lifelines. If they don't work or don't look good, I'll have to try the other stuff. I'll let you know if they work. They seem awfully large.

I would like to hear from other Mac owners how they kid-proofed their boats.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You may find the tennis court nets tough if they still have the tape at the top.

The nets sold for boat lifelines don't have a fixed length strip at the top. This lets you adjust the height by stretching the length. For the short mac stauchions you have to stretch them longer.

[Tom Root]

I don't know if this will be of any help, I have no real need for netting, but I was browsing the members (just discovered that feature, I know I'm slow, so what ) Anyway this member from Spain had a pic, of what appears to be an X, but the pic is smallish, OK for my eyes anyway! It's blue where the black topsides should be, and the bow rail looks a bit odd? But check it out, it looks pretty good with it on. If I didn't have my spinnaker pole mounted to my stancions, I'd probably rip 'em off, as it is, I currently leave the lifelines slack. It makes it easier to stow the mast anyway. I put mounts on them.

But of course you want to protect the kiddies. What I have found in past boats is to put 'em on a leash, easier, and let them learn their sea legs and you have no worries when ya get real busy sailing! And then the Duck.....or Boom.... routine, they learn fast! AND one hand for the boat and one hand for you, is one of the 1st things I remind all people who go with me!

http://losvividores.tripod.com/vividores/id17.html - Bottom right side of page!