Making Dyneema Sailboat Lifelines

We assemble dyneema lifelines on this Cape Dory 26 and demonstrate making the locked Brummel splice and Estar hitch.
Knots and splicing video links:
Buntline and Estar Hitch

If you don't have clearance on the lifeline stanchion holes to pass through a spliced eye as shown in my video, you should use a modified brummel splice as shown here:
Modified Brummel Splice, Part 1

Summary of best knots for dyneema:

Parts and Sources:
For this boat we used 36 feet 1/8" or 3mm Dyneema SK-78 lashing rope and 120 feet of New England Ropes 1/4” or 6mm HTS 75 - West Marine.
To save some money I later bought the equivalent 1/4" DSM SK78 rope at USA Rope and Recovery but they have a 150' minimum order
and I experienced long delays getting my order filled. I had better luck and cheapest price of $0.80 per foot on bulk orders from
It's important to use a trusted supplier that won't sell you Chinese knock-off rope that has much lower breaking strength.

Two C. Sherman Johnson Splice Eyes with Threaded Stud 5/16" -24 x 2-1/2" RH (reuse your pelican hook body)

Davis Instruments 5/16” snap-on cable cover - West Marine.

Hollow end Selma splicing fid:

[superformOG]

The only thing i would add is how you did the half hitches on your lashing, to make it stronger its advised to only do the half hitch on the last lashing line, not the bundle, that allows the lashing to settle correctly and put the tension across all the strands. Binding all the strands can put more load on a single strand if the lashing cannot settle out. Also its advised to use a max of 8 lashing strands. Great video as always.

[jeffadams]

This is the BEST tutorial for Dyneema lifelines!!!! Thank you very much!

[gordonreeder]

Very good instructions. I have watched several demonstrations and this is the BEST

[MrLeventdelamort]

Outstanding tutorial, clear, concise, and well-executed..Much appreciated, Thanks!

[Sailspirit]

Just about to replace my lifelines, very timely. Thank you. Love your work and videos.

[AndyUK-Corrival]

I replaced my stainless with Dyneema two years ago and all looking good. I spliced an eye at the bow end and used a cow hitch to attach. At the stern I spliced a low friction ring and then used Dyneema lashing, doing away with the turnbuckles. Andy UK

[jayknight]

Thanks for the tutorial on dyneema, I am preparing to install some quite soon. Just finished “The Next Distant Sea”. Your best yet!

[usablellc]

Best video on dynema life lines I have seen.

[Paul_Crosbie]

Thanks for putting together a great step by step video, much appreciated.

[CBDav]

You always make it look so easy... nice work!

[jhuddy]

I put Amsteel 1/4” on our Valiant 40 back in 1999. Worked great. Used Johnson fittings.

[justinkeen]

These videos are incredibly helpful thanks a lot

[_r_ma_]

Thanks, James! Great video as always.

[marlings]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. This is an upcoming project on my boat and I can’t wait to start. I’d never seriously thought about dyneema but it’s clearly the right way forward for my boat. You’ve made this really easy to follow. 🙌🏻

[esling]

Ty. I now understand the Process and how to apply it to my Freedom 30.

[ushi]

As you mentioned at the beginning, use the SELMA Fids to improve your splicing skills a lot.
In my opinion the SELMA Fids in combination with D-Splicer needles are the best tools you can get for this kind of work.

[stewarthenderson]

Fantastic information here. THANK YOU!

[mobilixone]

Excellent! A big help for a beginner like me🤪

[bfett]

Great video! The only thing that lifeline supposed to transfer load (a sailor going overboard) to strongest end-points (pushpit/pullpit). A knot in the middle will prevent it and deposit half of the load onto the stanchion.

[SuperBullyone]

I would like to have standing rigging like that made for my C22 as backup rigging.