Plastic covered stainless guardrail wire.

[Vara]

I hope I know the answer to this question, just want reassurance.

Does the plastic coating add anything to the strength or utility, or is it just an aesthetic add-on.

Answers should be considered, as I have already stripped the plastic off, as it was gungy and sticky, and I don't want to have to buy new wire.

[bromleybysea]

A few years ago, I sailed on a boat that had plastic covered jack-stays. I gave n a yank and it parted! Inspection revealed that the s/s wire had corroded under the plastic. I would never have it on any boat of mine, either as jack-stays or guard rails. Have plain wire you can see. I can see no advantage in plastic covered wire whatsoever.

[boatbuilder]

Absoltely banned on coded boats, you can't see the corrosion untill you hear the splash.

[Barnac1e]

I can see no advantage in plastic covered wire whatsoever.

I remember reading about a crew member who had to be air-lifted off a yacht somewhere off the east coast a few years ago - he had tripped up on deck and sliced his nose off on an uncovered wire lifeline.

[jason -and the arguenauts]

Likely the reverse - it reduces the strength because for a given diameter of stanchion hole, you get a smaller diameter of wire going through it.

[Strathglass]

I hope I know the answer to this question, just want reassurance.

Does the plastic coating add anything to the strength or utility, or is it just an aesthetic add-on.

Answers should be considered, as I have already stripped the plastic off, as it was gungy and sticky, and I don't want to have to buy new wire.

Plastic covered wire is not allowed for guard rails when racing in the UK.

As has been stated when it does go it is very suddenly as any corosion cannot be seen.

For your size of yacht (34ft) the minimum wire diameter (uncoated) should be 4mm for guardrails and 5mm for jackstays (if they are wire ones)

There should be no problem with having stripped off the plastic if the wire is sound and of adequate diameter.

Iain

[maxi]

Definitely not popular with surveyors. Plastic hides all sort of nasties.

[onenyala]

How did you strip the plastic off ?

[mhouse]

Keep the wires on the boat and use a sharp carving knife. It wont take long and with them still aattached you will keep your fingers:

[rickym]

Had a similar experience with corrosion under the plastic. Coated plastic is dangerous as you cannot see what is underneath until it is too late