How to Attach a Block to a solid toe rail?

[firehoser75]

My boat has a solid (no holes) slightly curved (inboard at the top) aluminum toe rail. I have been contemplating how to attach a turning block (particularly snatch block) to the rail forward of my genoa track to allow for improved sheeting angles when going downwind (broad reach). The boat is 36 feet long and has a 150% genoa. Anyone ever done this successfully or have any workable ideas on how to do this and to ensure it will take the load in 30 knot gusts?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Ross]

Got a portable drill?

 

[RAD]

Install a track that way you have all kinds of adjustments and use the tool suggested by Ross to complete the project

 

[firehoser75]

Hole Location

Thanks for the replies. I did think about the drill, Ross, but where to drill. I didn't want to just turn my toe rail into swiss cheese .
Any ideas on how to locate the ideal spot? (Assuming drilling a hole is the only way to achieve this).
Thanks again,
Tom

 

[Ross]

Re: Hole Location

The track is a good suggestion. Genny track would serve.

 

[higgs]

If you want to attach a snatch block to a toe rail you have no other option but to drill a hole. where exactly to place the hole is a matter of trial and error. You can make intelliegnet guesses, but until you actually sail with the snatch block position you are only guessing.

 

[Ted]

Install some Winchard toe rail pad eyes. You will have to drill a small hole in your aluminum toe rail to fasten it in place. Once you've determined a good average lead location, you can drill a series of holes 4" or 6" on center forward and aft of that location to allow for fine tuning. They are fairly easy to move to a different location once the holes are drilled.

http://www.mauriprosailing.com/category/Wichard-Toe-Rail-Pad-Eyes.html

 

[Anchor Down]

Build an adjustable pad-eye jig

If you really want to only drill one hole, set up a jig to experiment with.

Two 8-inch sections of 2x4. Clamp them lengthwise (fore and aft) to sandwich a likely spot along the toe rail. Maybe cut a groove to accept the turned-in top of the toe rail to help secure it. Drill down through one piece, insert an eye-bolt with a 4" shaft, and secure with washer and nut. Attach snatch block to your temporary pad-eye.

You could tether the C-clamps to stanchions, so that if you get a strong gust and the jig carries away, you won't lose the clamps.

Test it out on a light wind day, and when on the opposite tack, you can slide it fore or aft to try different points of sail/sheeting angles. Pretty soon you'll find your sweet spot.

Then confidently drill only one hole on each side. Maybe relieve the edges of the hole with a rat-tail file, unless you're going to go for that $113 toe rail pad-eye, but I don't know if that will fit if your toe rail is bent in at the top. If you clip the block directly, you might get some strange wear where the toe rail bends inboard, but it shouldn't interfere with function.

 

[Bill Roosa]

There is NO ideal spot. Unless you only always sail on the same run with the same wind speed and wave action you will need several different locations for your turning block. Which is why they make tracks. Helps for the upwind courses also.
With all that said I'm thinking this is a solution looking for a problem.
Why do you think the sheeting angles are not what they should be?

 

[Bill Roosa]

Also, I've never heard of someone sheeting Forward of the existing track to improve downwind sheeting. You would want to be sheeting further back on the boat to accomplish that. using a turning block forward of the shrouds, while a interesting idea, is not a common practice

 

[shemandr]

We used to sheet the genoa to the spinnaker turning block on the transom to get the clew a little more outboard. Sheeting it more forward would seem to do the opposite. Anyway a pole is a good way to get the clew outboard.

 

[JoyRide28]

I'm pretty sure you're talking about a "barber hauler" right? If your toenail had a little rounded lip at the top (many do) you could probably do some temporary testing using a common C Clamp...

 

[firehoser75]

Thanks for all the replies. Some useful and interesting ideas.
My existing genoa track (adjustable from the cockpit) is on the side deck, near the cabin top, about even with the shrouds/chainplates. This is approx. 18" to 24" from the rail. I have been told, that to obtain better sail performance (especially for a 150 genoa) when going on a broad reach, the sheet lead should be moved outboard and forward. I don't own a pole (and currently haven't got a spare $1700) and was looking for a way to gain a little more in terms of sailing angles and possibly genoa efficiency.
I will definitely try the jig idea. I am not sure how I would attach a track to the rail, but I will look at what is available next time I am at a marine supply.
Thanks,
Tom

 

[Gunni]

The tradewinds solution: Strap a snatch block to the outer end of your boom and lead the genoa sheet to it and down to the winch.