DIY soft padeyes

[txtowman]

Any body made these?

I need two on my cabin top for fenders and mast raising stabilizer cables.

C22 1975 pop top.

Thanks, Sid

 

[Ross]

Man you gotta be more difinitive. What is a soft padeye? Supporting a fender and supporting a gin pole are worlds apart.

 

[Bill1565]

Me too Ross. Never heard of soft padeyes, DIY or Factory.

 

[kpgraci]

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/make-your-own-soft-pad-eyes/

No comment on their suitability for a particular task.

 

[Winkfish]

Sounds like a test project for Maine Sail.

 

[Cayennita]

I have made a few. They are easy to make and you can finish making it tight by hooking one to the tack hook for the genoa and a pulling with a halyard. Let it be for a few minutes and crank it up a little bit more. An 11 year old boy showed me how to do it.

 

[Cayennita]

Google soft pad eye ans click on the west system site.

 

[thinwater]

Back in the 80s I used them on dingies and beach cats...

... because they hurt a lot less to step on or kneel (ouch) on. I use them, in concept, on the floor of my tender, for the same reason.

But I don't see it for the proposed purpose.

 

[caguy]

Man you gotta be more difinitive. What is a soft padeye? Supporting a fender and supporting a gin pole are worlds apart.

Ross, Along with relativity there goes the Theory of Old Dogs and New Tricks.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Hey Ross
Would you like me to hold caguy by the soft padeye while you flog him with a halyard? You might have to repeat the floging after a few minutes as he loosens up. I learned this from a crusty old platoon sergeant.

 

[All U Get]

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/make-your-own-soft-pad-eyes/

No comment on their suitability for a particular task.

Wow, just when I needed an idea for my kayak.
All U Get

 

[thinwater]

Wow, just when I needed an idea for my kayak.
All U Get

Of course, it's just like West Systems and a forum to make "2 holes and 2 knots" more complex. I think the design stinks (hey, gotta say what I mean) because the cord cannot be replaced. Better, simply drill the holes and seal with 3M 5200. Use a backing plate if needed.

Another variation I used once on a perfomance boat (cat, thin skins and kevlar honey comb) was to simply drill the holes, use kevlar line and fray as dirrected to spread the load, then epoxy in to seal. No backing plate needed, very light. Don't use spectra etc. as the epoxy won't bond so well. But with UV it's not going to last, and we accepted that.

 

[kpgraci]

Of course, it's just like West Systems and a forum to make "2 holes and 2 knots" more complex.

 

[All U Get]

I supose if you couldn't drill through or had bad access for a backer, these would be an alternative.
All U Get

 

[Merlin Clark]

I wonder if you could make them out of a serious hardwood like purple heart? or make them out of Starboard?
Then you could fasten them with SS machine screws and change the line/rope when it becomes worn.