1984: Need new blocks

[Sharon P]

Hello All,
We had a beautiful first sail on our 1984 25'!
One issue - the plastic "wheels" on the rear
blocks that attach to the jib were cracked and
ended up shredding the outer layer of the lines.
We will need to purchase new blocks (or interior
little "wheel") or new blocks. Can someone help
me understand what part now being made will
fill this need? Also - we'd like to buy new blocks
for the front of the boat, just to be sure. Attached
picture is the rear block.
Thank you for any help - we appreciate your thoughts.
Sharon

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sharon, the best buy on very, very good gear is Garhauer. They have a website.

 

[Meriachee]

Don't do it Sharon! Resist the force!

http://garhauermarine.com/

Best blocks on the planet and cheapest too.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Those "wheels" are called "sheaves" and pronounced "shivs". end of boating lesson.

You could just replace the sheaves (and most likely the bushings/bearings in the hub), but to do so would require removing hte blocks from the boat, then drilling or grinding out the rivets that serve as axles for the sheaves. Then reassemble the blocks using something else for axles. The best idea (and I'm not possitive they do this?) would be to send them to Schaefer Marine for rebuild, best..... but $$$$$! They would most likely suggest simply buying new blocks, which brings us back to the above advice..... Replacing the blocks, not fixing them.
I like Schaefer (once applied for a job there as Customer Service person), but since Rudy now sells Garhauer more than Schaefer and the price seems better, the only concern I"d have is whether the bolt holes line up, I bet them won't, but it is not hard to make a cover plate to fit between the block and the deck (with sealant) to cover the old holes. By the time you remove the old blocks to repair them..... you are halfway to simply installing new blocks!

 

[woodster]

if they are schaffer blocks they will refurbish them call customer service and talk to them they will tell you what they can do for you and if the refurbish them it will be about 1/3rd to 50% of new in most cases they are good people to deal with

 

[Brian S]

They look like Schaefer to me. And they look like standup blocks on a pintrack (didn't the PO say they were jib sheet blocks?) so getting them refurbed by Schaefer would be nice. Though you should be able to remove them and put new blocks on the cars, therefore avoiding having to find new cars to work with the track, if you wanted to just replace them. Then again, having an excuse to exchange pintrack for remotely adjustable Garhauer cars and tracks would be awesome from a sail trim standpoint!

 

[Jackdaw]

Don't do it Sharon! Resist the force!

http://garhauermarine.com/

Best blocks on the planet and cheapest too.

Oh come on guys, there're OK but not THAT good! ;^)

 

[Brian S]

Viadana from www.sailcare.com is also pretty nice, at 1/2 the cost of Harken. Their cam cleats are the same design as Harken H150s. The story is the Spanish fellow who designed them licensed them to Harken in the US, and Viadana in Europe and South America. The finish of the Viadana is not quite as nice as the Harken, but equal in performance as far as I've seen. The stainless blocks are quite nice also. A little bit the old school design, not the same as Harken's Carbo stuff.

 

[Sunbird22358]

They look like Schaefer to me. And they look like standup blocks on a pintrack (didn't the PO say they were jib sheet blocks?) so getting them refurbed by Schaefer would be nice. Though you should be able to remove them and put new blocks on the cars, therefore avoiding having to find new cars to work with the track, if you wanted to just replace them. Then again, having an excuse to exchange pintrack for remotely adjustable Garhauer cars and tracks would be awesome from a sail trim standpoint!

I looked at the included picture, but for some reason I still answered based on thinking it was the genoa turning blocks that had broken and thus the advice that by the time they remove the blocks and fix them, they could have simply replaced them. For those stand-up blocks (easy to remove off the track) I'd say definitely give Schaefer a call to inquire about refurb.