Evolution
Hello,
Historical oddity factor in gear, here. Wire rope lifelines were originally uncoated, and sailors clamored for coatings because if you were washed up against those skinny wires, it was a bit too much like hitting a cheese slicer. But the coatings, especially if the joints were not tight and/or taped, trapped water, leading to invisible corrosion. So now we're back to cheese slicing, and HM hasn't made its way into the ruling committee's consciousness. So your current choice might be dangerous-but-legal, or safe-but-illegal. Ain't yachting grand? I'd run the HM option by the rules people, and bring along the above arguments, plus break strength numbers for spliced lines.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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