Why do sailboats have lifelines rather than the typical rails?

Julieta Suleiman: On a sailboat. . . Lifelines & rails go together like peanut butter and jelly. Hard solid rails such as that on powerboats, that have large posts and railing would just not work on a sailboat. The water coming over the deck of a sailboat must wash off as quickly as it came, and it must do so with minimum deflection.Solid or big bold rails with large diameter posts, could cause the vessel to pitch pole or capsize. So the stainless steel, thin rods and (life) lines, have very little resistance to the water rushing over board.For example: most sailboats I have ever seen, have rails or stanchions with netting underneath to prevent my shoes, coffee cup, etc. from rolling off the decks.In my case, we use harnesses with hydrostatic inflators - so they act as both a life vest and a harness. The harness has a tether which attaches to the lifeline.Anytime a sailor is alone on deck (such as night sailing, and your partner is sleeping) you would wear your harness! and attach it to a lifeline. John...Show more

Serena Doak: It has to do with resistance as well as speed. A sail boat can not go nearly as fast as power boats so the danger is not as intense.

Rosalia Hibler: It's softer on the sail and move when line hit them.Less wind and water resistance.They do use tubing on the bow and sterns rails..

Rufus Plough: It's a question of compound curves. If you notice, the side of a power boat becomes pretty straight just aft of the bow. While a sailboat is curved from bow to stern. Thus it would take several additional stanchions to support a ridged rail with the same curvature. The lifelines are actual not conforming to the curvature but are cord segments.

Karl Samiec: I've seen quite a few sailboats with solid lifelines. We are thinking of installing solid lifelines on our sailboat before we leave for the south Pacific. The windage is minimal, especially if you consider what was stated about using netting! , which creates windage and other problems.On a side note, ple! ase NEVER connect your harness to a lifeline. They are not to be used to hold a person's weight, but just to help steady you while on deck. Anyone with any experience knows that you run a jackline from front to back, and you clip on to that....Show more

Lue Podewils: Life lines are easier to work around, and there is work to do on deck while sailing. Life lines are also lighter weight than solid rails not adding weight to the boat.Life lines have less drag through the wind than solid rails.A harness can be clipped to a life line when sailing at night or working on the deck in rough weather.

Sheron Perrez: I've gotta say, my Goodness people are silly.Sailboats are typically given cheap stuff.There are in fact rail equipped sailboats.But I can think of several logical "traditional" reasons as well. If you've ever actually worked a powerboat you'll notice first thing that when one breaks the mechanic seldom reaches for an awl and starts splicing in a new rope. TH! US he seldom worries where he can store additional rope, where he really won't notice it, or better yet, it might save his life in ways other than as spare rope....Show more