"Redneck Rigging" anyone else do it?

[blr972]

So I'm "financially insecure" and my boat is almost twice my age and barely worth anything so spending large amounts of money on it is....well....not what I want to do.

Well, my main sheet block had some bad sheaves in it for awhile now, actually since I've had the boat and I decided they needed to be replaced. Instead of buying "marine" sheaves or a new block I decided I would try to "fix" it instead.

So I bought a couple of blocks from good ol' Wally World for a whoooping $2.54 each.

Drilled out the rivets, took out the sheaves, and put them in the block with some bushings.

I know it isn't ideal by any means and I should mention this is a BACK-UP block, I do have a good one, old but good, that I am going to use this season.

I don't think this particular "fix" would work on anything much bigger than my 20' Ensenada but I was just wondering if anyone else does things like this or does everyone stick with "marine-only" gear.

[Fstbttms]

No wonder you can't afford real blocks. You spent all your money on that mondo watch.

[blr972]

Haha, my watch is pretty fancy. I think I spent a whole 5 dollars on it almost 2 years ago. Another wonderful Wally World purchase I believe.

[danjarch]

I've been know to modify anything and everything to either save a buck or get the job done. That said, I would stongly recommend that you use a lock nut (the kind with the nylon ring at the top), instead of the one you've got on there now. Then take a grinder and cut off the extra bolt. Leave about a thread to keep the nut on but get it close.

If not, then the bolt will most likely come loose at the worst time and the extra bolt will catch on things when you don't want them to.

[jackdale]

In fresh water, you may be able to get away with "redneck rigging". In the corrosive environment of salt water sailing - no way.

I once saw a M26 that had been in sail water for two weeks; the chainplates were shoeing corrosion already.

[dub420sailor]

Saltwater will definitely kill it. I would also be concerned if you were sailing in the ocean or anywhere your life depends on your equipment working. My experience is if something will break it will break at the worst possible time when you are in the worst possible place.

Andy

[scottyt]

heck the sheaves for that block cost less than 10 bucks online. then use a cleaves pin and a split ring to hold it together.

at least thats my plan to fix mine in the spring

[roline]

I rebuilt the main halyard exit sheave for my Santana525, because no one made a replacement. I modified a Harken ball-bearing wire sheave to accept 5/16 rope and replaced the hollow stainless axle with a 1/4" 304L stainless bolt. I had to grind the bolt head and nut quite thin so I used locktite to prevent movement. It was a very tight fit due to the thin head and nut jamming into the mast section, but has worked great for over 10 yrs. Just select the proper materials for the job and environment.

[FishSticks]

You've got the makings of a fine sailor blr972...resourcefulness is a handy attribute.

Here's a little temporary boom splint that got us through a couple months of sailing until the season ended. On the first day of a two day race series we had a little reefing malfunction that fractured the boom. Fortunately it was a long split parallel to the grain. My son managed to get ashore to a Home Depot where he procured this plastic pipe and a bunch of hose clamps. Of course we had an ample supply of duct tape aboard. We used that to cover the hose clamps. We raced the next day... no problem, and sailed a good many miles until we had the time to make a permanent repair.

[JimMcGee]

Hood uses a hefty clevis pin and shackle arrangement that pivots in an HPDE shoulder bushing for the sail attachments on their furlers. It's a custom order combo from the UK. Guess what part dropped in the water when I was pulling the jib down ahead of a storm?

Nobody has that part and the local Hood dealer told me four to five weeks to get a replacement. An off the shelf clevis pin, some time on the drill press and a new shoulder bushing turned on the lathe and I'm back on the water, and it still looked good at the end of the season. That said I'll order a couple of spares this winter.

I think if you own a boat you have to have a little McGyver in you or you end up spending a LOT of money. The trick is knowing when you should and when you shouldn't McGyver something.