Blasphemy by Winch Over-haul

[CloudDiver]

Here is an update to the bench: I just made 7 belay pins using a 12 inch length of 1/2 inch stainless rod epoxied into wood handles. The belay pins have multiple uses for making fast, you can see here they secure these aluminum blocks (rock climbing rescue pulleys) so I can route a long dyneema stay or shroud and put it under tension. The wood handles are file handles that I got from an eBay seller, a box of 20 for $20. The stainless rod is purchased by the pound, all together I think these belay pins run me around $5 to $6 each. I will probably make a few more. Right now I only have a line of holes drilled at each end of the table, but really I could drill anywhere I might need to set a pin.

 

[CloudDiver]

Sheesh @CloudDiver, you're the most productive son-of-a-sailor in these forums. Very nice indeed, but you're making the rest of us look bad. If the cops ever bust down your door, you'll have to explain the innocuous intent of all that Medieval hardware - ha! I'm looking at it and I still don't understand how to use it. Do you think you could post a video of it in action??

I'll work on that video...

 

[GGordonWoody]

Cool. I'm sure I need one, I just don't know why yet!

 

[CloudDiver]

Cool. I'm sure I need one, I just don't know why yet!

If you get into doing your own rope work its well worth it, plus numerous other 'clean' small projects where a good solid cutting surface is nice. One good example besides ropes is cutting down the strips of faux teak (Lowe's Vinyl self-stick planks) for the cabin sole.
I watched your YouTube video; really cool and well made!

 

[Jackdaw]

Very nice cloud! Like the line pre-stretcher. For loading dyneema just remember to take into acccount that the mechanical efficiency of the blocks is not 1.00! ;^)

 

[Ron20324]

Cool. I'm sure I need one, I just don't know why yet!

Silly goose... it's for taffy pulling for the older folks lacking strength.

 

[CloudDiver]

Very nice cloud! Like the line pre-stretcher. For loading dyneema just remember to take into acccount that the mechanical efficiency of the blocks is not 1.00! ;^)

Noted... When I pre-stretch dyneema, ideally I'll be using a load cell. The challenge is to find one in the two ton range that is affordable. What I have now is a digital hanging scale that only goes up to 600 lbs. It is very accurate but in no way does that make it 'certified for trade' or officially calibrated to any standard. Of course, I'm not looking at a $4k wireless Spinlock load-cells, I've been checking out scientific S-beam types on various online sources. The trick is putting together a reasonably priced cell with a digital read-out, they usually sell as separate units. The general consensus I've seen from various professional riggers working with dyneema is to pull at 10% of the SWL, a few pulls and then let the last pull dwell for several hours (This method was used by Chicago Rigging to test creep in various brands of pre-stretched dyneema). This removes all construction stretch and settles the splices, any creep is almost immeasurable on heat annealed fibers. Using the 3mm flavor for small boats, I really don't need to get that crazy!

 

[jssailem]

Nice Cloud. Looks like your going professional. Job opportunity after school?

 

[CloudDiver]

Nice Cloud. Looks like your going professional. Job opportunity after school?

Maybe in a limited capacity. I've done well with many types of splices but I need to more practice to be faster & efficient. I'll be making my own soft shackles as well as dyneema rigging for my own boat. I'd like to (someday) be able to offer dyneema rigging to small boat racers and trailer sailors at a price that is very competitive with wire/machine swaging.

 

[jssailem]

Looks like the rig you've built will do the job. I thought about dynneema for my lifelines but settled on stainless when the quote was less than the cost of the line. Think the shop needed the work. Did use them for gates though. That would be a easy 50 bucks plus parts. They look cool with paracord lanyards for pulls. A easy bury splice. Splicing is tedious, not difficult, and is becoming a lost seamanship skill. The trouble with all the electronic gadgets stealing folks time.

 

[GGordonWoody]

I watched your YouTube video; really cool and well made!

Ha! That makes you #58 (I've had to watch it the first 57 times). Just don't waste your youth making videos. But when you do, watch this guy first. And subscribe. I think we know him.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ceeceebee99

The trouble with all the electronic gadgets stealing folks time.

Bingo! Making a box right now for the Davis Vantage Pro that Santa brought me. We have to know when the wind gets to 8 knots so we can take down the laundry and motor back to the dock safely. Baby steps you know. But we are like 177,500th in the Virtual Regatta (just rounded the Horn, right there with Burton).