Gottifredi Maffioli Safeline Max - Dyneema lifelines for yachts
by Phil Anniss 1 Mar 2021 09:00 PST
Dyneema lifelines for yachts © Pauger Carbon
Textile Dyneema lifelines are an increasingly popular choice for cruising as well as racing sailboats. They offer some clear advantages and that is why premium Italian rope manufacturer, Gottifredi Maffioli, has a dedicated lifeline material called Safeline Max. In this blog we outline the key features and benefits of Dyneema lifelines for yachts.
Gottifredi Maffioli's Safeline Max is made from Dyneema® DM20 Max technology. This product was created by DSM Dyneema specifically for deep water mooring applications and to minimise creep. The result is a "dimensionally stable" Dyneema®, which in layman's terms means very stiff with zero creep!
The table below highlights two of the major benefits of textile lifelines over the tradition wire alternative.
| Break Load (kg) | Weight (g/m) |
|---|
| 4mm 7x19 Wire | 910 | 60 |
| 5mm Safeline Max | 1600 | 19.6 |
| Difference | 76% | 67% |
| Break Load (kg) | Weight (g/m) |
|---|
| 5mm 7x19 Wire | 1420 | 93 |
| 6mm Safeline Max | 2300 | 26.9 |
| Difference | 61% | 71% |
Smaller yachts (under approx 28ft) will generally use 4mm wire, above which, 5mm wire is an industry standard for lifelines. When using Dyneema® it is normal to go up 1mm to achieve a similar stiffness to wire. However, this is an additional benefit in that they are much more comfortable on your hands and to lean against for long periods of time, when sitting on the rail.
When comparing 4/5mm wire to 5/6mm Safeline Max you get approx 70% more strength for 70% less weight. That is what's known in the trade as a win-win scenario!
Additional benefits of Safeline Max lifelines include:
- Abrasion resistant
- Less abrasive to sails / running rigging
- No corrosion worries
- Easy to inspect - If the cover is intact, the product is in good condition (unlike wire which can corrode from the inside out!)
If we take the example of a standard 40ft yacht with 2 rows of lifelines down each side and across the stern, we are talking about approx. 180ft / 54m of wire. If we replace the 5mm wire with 6mm Safeline Max it provides an overall weight saving of 3,5kg. That might not sound like a lot but here at Upffront.com we are passionate about the benefits of weight saving for every type of sailboat, and we can tell you that this is a significant contribution to reducing your sailing-performance waistline!
Safeline Max has a unique triple braid construction which allows the product to be spliced without any increase in diameter which makes installation of pre-spliced lines easier (through stanchion bases). Maintenance is simply a question of regular washing with fresh water and inspection for signs of fluffing (which would indicate potential abrasion hotspots).
The industry is rapidly accepting the benefits of Dyneema® lifelines and Safeline Max is compliant with the requirements of Paragraph 3.14 of the World Sailing Offshore special regulations for the categories for which the use of textile lifelines is allowed (Monohulls Cat.4 and Multihulls).
Dyneema® lifelines are an easy upgrade with some significant benefits, are safer and will last just as long as your old wire lifelines.
You can check out Gottifredi Maffioli's Safeline Max on upffront.com or if you would like to talk about upgrading to Dyneema® lifelines, please contact support@upffront.com or via the Running Rigging Enquiry Form.