How to Install a Multihull Net

In order to provide a safe comfortable surface, nets will need to be firmly attached to the structure and tensioned. The result should be a flat surface with minimal sag and movement. Some netting materials have more elasticity and will need to be stretched to fit while stronger nets with less elasticity will tension up with little change in size. The stress on the border of all of these nets and their attachment hardware is significant and, with use, will cause the net to loosen so netting installations will also need allow for periodic re-tensioning. The easiest method to accomplish this is with lacing line, wrapped at short intervals (4” to 6” / 10 to 15 cm), between the net and the attachment hardware on the structure. A reasonable lacing gap of 2”-3” / 5cm – 8 cm should be allowed for working the lacing and future elongation of the materials. There are several good methods or patterns that can be used, as described on our Patterns page . The length of line required can be determined by using our Line Calculator , and lacing line can be purchased on Line or Lacing Kits pages under on the Price menu.




Example of a properly installed net.







Trampoline Replacement Instructions

The procedures to install a net will vary considerably with the type of netting, borders, and attachment hardware. The links below describe a general outline to follow to attach and tension a net to a boat or structure.


General Tensioning Procedure for all nets

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Description 1

  1. Put net over old nets, tie out all 4 corners with scrap line, then cut away old net.
    1. (Optional, but helpful). Using large zip ties zip tie the net every 4-6 lacing points and pull as tight as the zip ties will allow.
  2. Establish lacing pattern all 4 sides (double lacing pattern as shown in drawing). Start with a small bowline & run the line through each side in the correct pattern, the net will be small at this point and you might not have enough line to complete as the net will be far away from the edge. Temporarily terminate ends with a half hitch or two and DO NOT CUT LINE.
  3. After the lacing pattern is established on all 4 sides go back and start tensioning each side. Keep the net roughly centered pulling a few inches out of the gap on each side by working the line tension from bowline to line end…finish with a temporary half hitch or two. After all 4 sides have been tensioned take a minute to cuss at me and swear there’s no way the net’s big enough (don’t call me about that yet though). Then walk all over the very bouncy net with 2 or 3 people for initial break-in.
  4. Repeat 3.
  5. Repeat 3, but you might be able to skip the cussing at me part because you’re probably starting to think the net just might fit.
  6. Repeat 3. You might have it at this point or you might need to repeat 1 more time. The net should be 2-1/2” to 3” from the edge now and should be a good, taut trampoline. When you’re ready to call it good, terminate the ends with 7-12 half hitches. Leave at least 3’ of excess line when you cut as you will want to retention again in 1-4 months. Tie up the excess line and hide it as best you can.
       Enjoy lunch if you’re a pro, dinner if you’re not.

Description 2

  1. Lay the new net out onto the old net and make sure it is oriented correctly.
  2. Attach temporary lines to the corners of the net and tie to the structure somewhere so that the net will be held in position.
  3. Remove the old net and free up all of the lacing points.
  4. Starting from a corner begin running the lacing line loosely through the grommets and lacing points following the intended lacing pattern. If the line has been pre-cut it will probably not go the full length of a side because the lacing gap is larger. Just go as far as you can and tie it off. Do not tighten the lacing line yet keep it loose with a larger lacing gap.
  5. Continue running the lacing line loosely on the next side of the net until all sides of the net are supported with loose lacing. Some nets, especially those made on a diagonal configuration, can be distorted easily, overstretched in one direction making them smaller in the other, so it is important not to start tightening the lacing until all sides are supported.
  6. Once all sides are supported, gradually start tightening the lacing line starting on the side with the largest gap. Gloves can be helpful at this point to prevent blisters. Pull the line from one grommet at a time working the slack down the side. Do not try and tighten one side completely, work gradually, tie the line off and move to the next side with the next largest gap. Try to keep the net centered as it stretches out.
  7. Walk around on the net to help stretch it out, and then re-tension, pulling the line from one grommet at a time working the slack down the side of the net. As the net starts to get tight a pair of pliers can be helpful in grabbing and pulling the line.
  8. When you are satisfied with the net tension, make an additional wrap of the line around the corner grommet and tie the end of the line off with 3 half hitches at the lacing point. This will hold and allow you to untie the knots later on if re-tensioning is necessary.
  9. Cut the excess line and melt or whip the ends.



Additional installation considerations for nets with alternate border types

Boltrope

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A Boltrope is a hard, non-compressible rope sewn into the border of a net that will slide into a track, mounted on the structure. It holds the net without requiring any lacing or providing any means of tensioning. Nets with boltrope on one or more sides will need to insert the boltrope into the tracks before any lacing is done. Make sure the track is clean and free of burrs. The ends of the track should be rounded, not sharp, use a file or sandpaper if necessary to round any edge that might touch the boltrope or the net. A lubricant can be helpful if the boltrope is a tight fit, WD-40, Silicone or soap will work. If the net has boltrope on opposite sides these will need to be inserted simultaneously, easier with 2 people, but possible with one alternating sides pulling just a few inches or cm at a time. Once all of the boltropes are in the tracks follow the general tensioning procedure for the tensioning sides.

Cable

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Nets can be attached to cables by lacing or with sleeves. If the net laces to the cable you would just follow the General Tensioning Procedure as described above. On Nets with sleeves for cables you will need to disconnect and insert the cable through the sleeves and re-connect it before attaching any lacing sides (but after inserting boltrope if your net has both). The amount of tension to put on the cable will depend on the amount of Catenary curvature designed into the net. If the net was designed with a minimal amount of curvature (around 40:1 length to cord ratio) then you should tighten the cable hard and straight. If the net was made with more than the minimum curvature (i.e. smaller ratio) then you should tighten the cable until it has about half of the curve cord measure with the loose weight of the net hanging on it (no lacing).

This will be a starting point and you may need to adjust the cable turnbuckle or lashing as the net is tensioned. Tie the remaining corners of the net with temporary lines to hold the net in place and start lacing the tensioning sides of the net as described above but monitor the cable curve as the net stretches out. It would be best to have a tight reference line (small cord) drawn from the Cable pad eyes to measure the curve. If the cable is curving too much and needs to be tightened you may need to loosen up the lacing on the net to do this and then re-tension the lacing. If you are using synthetic lines be aware of elongation. Dyneema lines should be pre-stretched to get to their elongated length before final tensioning of the net.

Internal Tension Lines

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Internal Tension Lines support the net similar to a Cable in a sleeve, across an unsupported side to strong Pad Eyes at the corners of the opening. They are usually finished with spliced eyes and stainless steel thimbles at the ends. These ends will need to be lashed to Pad Eyes at the corner of the opening before the rest of the net is attached. Using a slightly smaller line than for lacing, 7/64” or 1/8”, tie a bowline to the eye on the end of the tension line and run the loose end of the line through the Pad Eye. Run the line through both the Tension Line eye and the Pad Eye 3 more times, passing through each in the same direction, so that you have 7 lines total running between the 2 eyes. Tie the line off with half hitches around the bundle of all 7 lines. Do this loosely on both ends before trying to tension the lashing.

Just as with Cables, Internal Tension lines will have a catenary curve. The lashings at each end should be gradually tightened, with the gaps between the net and the opening equal on both sides, until the curvature of the tension line, with the net hanging loose on it, is about half of the designed amount of curvature.

At this point, using the general tensioning procedure above, begin lacing the remaining sides of the net. Monitor the increasing curvature in the Tension Line, and if necessary adjust the lashings so that the curve ends up near the designed amount when the net is completely tensioned. Note that it will be nearly impossible to tighten these lashings when the net is tight, so any adjustments should be made before the net gets completely tight, and if necessary the net may need to be loosened in order to adjust the Tension Line lashings. Finish the lashings off with 3 or more half hitches around the bundle of lines snugged up tight to the Pad Eye.

Rope Border

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Nets with Rope Borders have rope woven through the netting at the perimeter, and spliced together to form a closed loop around the net. Since rope borders have practically no stiffness when loose, in order to support the netting between lacing points, they should be under significant tension. This tension must be applied from the corners where the rope border makes a turn. At every point where the perimeter of the net makes a turn, lash the rope border to a lacing point on the opening with 6 or 7 passes of line. Do this loosely at first and then gradually tighten up the lashings so that all corners of the net are an equal distance from the opening. These lashings should be tightened as much as possible so that the Rope Border is hard and stiff and not easily bent. It is important that the lacing points that the corners of the net are lashed to be strong enough to hold the extra stress. After all corners of the net are lashed tight then the sides of the net can be laced and tensioned as described above in the Standard Tensioning Procedure.

Battens and End Capson Webbing Nets

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With the new net laid out on top of the old net, insert the battens, one at a time, through all of the webbing loops on each side of the net. The 1/8” lines attached to the battens will be tied off to lacing points on the boat to control the batten rotation and movement. The battens should be cut slightly longer than the side of the net they are intended for, so that when all battens are inserted they should overlap in the corners. Position the battens so that the rotation control lines are free of the net webbing loops, there should be an extra hole nearby if the line needs to be moved to clear a webbing loop.

Begin lacing the net up, loosely at first, until all sides are laced. Then gradually tighten the lacing around the net, working the slack line toward the corners. Tighten most on the sides with the largest gap, so that the net becomes centered in the opening with an even lacing gap on all sides. As you tension, keep an eye on the battens to be sure they remain overlapped in the corners, the battens will become difficult to move after the net is fully tensioned. Repeat this several times until the net seems tight, walk around on the net and then repeat the tensioning again.

The overlapping battens will need to be cut back to install the End Caps. Measure back from the center of the overlap 1-1/8” and cut the battens off square with a hand saw. If the space is to tight for a saw, a hack saw blade will work.

Unbolt the set of End Caps if they are bolted together, slip the End Caps over the batten ends so that the set screw holes face inward, and line up the bolt holes. Insert the shoulder bolt and attach the lock nut. Tighten with the wrenches. The End Caps are designed to fit loosely over the battens so that the net can be retensioned as necessary.

A 3/16” hole can be drilled near the end of each end cap for a #8 x 1/2” set screw. In most situations, where the batten is held by end caps at both ends these set screws should Not Be Used. If both ends of the batten are not fitted with end caps, these screws should be installed, on that end cap only. To install the set screw, drill an 1/8” hole into the batten through the hole in the end cap, and then screw in the set screw.