Cheek Block for Main Sheet

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Merrill Masse

On my 1981 H37C, the delrin sheave on the main sheet cheek block has started to break apart. This cheek block is located on the cabin roof and is mounted with either four machine screws (with hex nuts hidden above the hard head liner and the cabin roof top ?) or four wood type screws. Has anyone out there replaced this cheek block and if so, what kind of fasteners did you discover. I intend to replace this cheek block when PERSISTENCE is pulled for the winter (mid to late Sept.) if it lasts that long. I hope there are NOT hidden NUTS between the headliner and the cabin roof top. My rig and sail controls are the standard type with the traveller track mounted on the bridgedeck in front of the companionway. Thanks in advance. Merrill
 
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Ed Schenck

Long screws.

Four long screws Merrill. Seemed really solid when I removed it....permanently. I bought new Garhauer fiddle blocks for the mainsheet, one with a cam cleat(40 series, see Related Link). I now keep everything at the traveler. Feels good to have complete main control with these gusty Lake Erie winds. I can easily sheet in/out from the helm without need for the winch. My plan was to place two 2xdeck organizers up there and run some halyards and reefing lines back. Bought those plus two 2xrope clutches and a winch for the starboard side of cabin. But I have been reluctant to do the work, I really like the clean cabin roof. If and when I do it I will use bolts, not screws.
 

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Steve Humenick

Nice Photo Ed!

Nice shot of SUNSHINE (soon to be OCEAN ROSE) Ed! This is my first season as the new owner and you can imagine my surprise to see her photo here. I also replaced the main sheet blocks with Garhauer 60 series roller bearing blocks, a triple with cam on the traveller and a double and a single on the boom. With a 6:1 purchase on large sheave roller bearing blocks the main now trims as easy as a sailing dink! Well worth it. I used two blocks on the boom to spread the load, a double block on the original bail and a single on a bail about 6" forward of that. For the second bail I just moved the now unused bail near the gooseneck, being careful to move the internal outhaul block anchor point from the bail bolt to one of the gooseneck bolts. A hook bent on a piece of stiff wire and fished through the center sheave of the gooseneck helps, no need to take the boom apart. The original mainsheet fiddle blocks are now doing duty as a vang, anchored to a 3/8 eye bolt that replached one of the mast collar bolts. As for the cheek block, it now leads the vang line aft to where the mainsheet used to be, you can even use the old mainsheet winch for the vang. Overkill? maybe, but it's there if you need it. The outhaul was also led aft by using a block to the same eybolt and a second cheek block, I had a Ronstan aluminum sheave cheek block about the same size as the old mainsheet cheek block in my junk box for 20 years, knew I would use it some day. If Ronstan still makes it it would be an excellent replacement for the plastic cheek block. Now all of the trim and shape controls are in the cockpit and handy from the wheel, much better when short handed. I'll put some pictures up when I get around to putting film in the camera.
 
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Ed Schenck

Ocean Rose.

That's a good name. I forget where I got the picture, I have about a hundred that I have received from owners or "stole" from YachtWorld. From your description it sounds as if your traveler is on the cabin trunk. Else I don't understand needing to spread the load under the boom. I'll look forward to your pictures. You can't mess that boat up. Sunday and yesterday we saw 6.5 knots(8 mph on GPS) consistently. And I have not had the cover off of the staysail all year.
 
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