Stern step amsteel lines installed - 2023

       Stern step Amsteel lines installed!!!

 We had Luis here at Marina Mazatlán come by and start the refit for the stern steps on our Islander Freeport 36' sailboat. We use these steps while at anchor a lot. After about 45 years of being on the boat one of the life line swags broke off. it is on the end that attaches to the steps where they go under the water. So it is no wonder the swaged end rusted apart.

April 2023 - s/v Elegant'sea ⛵ Chip & Debbie 💑 in Marina Mazatlan ⛱ Pacific Mexico

 We just came back from a road trip to Puerto Vallarta where we picked up some Amsteel line at Zaragoza's for the replacement of the life line material. Luis says he knows a welder that can refashion new swag ends and attach the Amsteel.

 Right now we have a small line attached to the roller that goes to the stern anchor rode so we  can pull it quick if we need it. Also a line going to the dock from a cleat that is mounted inside the stern lazerett by the anchor windless. Comes in handy as a lot of slips are bigger than our 36 foot boat so the dock cleats are off, this angle to the lazerett keeps the boat in close to the dock.

 Luis brought his son with him who is eleven and he was able to put his hand inside the stern windlass house pipe coming out of the teak cap rail. The previous owner had installed a stern windless and they did a nice job. It does though stop you from reaching the upper screw to the stern steps, at least for a bigger person.

We previously posted about the welder fabricating the existing swedges to crimps in order to attach the Amsteel lines. The welder did test the swedges and strength to make sure they would stay crimped as well as hold us when we stepped on the steps - 120 kg (264 lbs)!!
Our stern steps life line replacement is done. They seem to work just fine again. We will see how they hold up and I suspect they will be just fine.I am standing on the steps and pointing to one of the new lines and the new eyes and swags.

 Luis brought our new Amsteel lines with the repurposed eyes swedged on, back to our boat. They look quite nice. The eyes were cut off the old life lines that held the stern steps and then welded new stainless steel homemade swedges. Then the Amsteel was installed. They look to be the exact same length. One of the swedges from the old life lines broke after decades of being dropped in the salt water. This week he will be back to install them