My boat is a 1981 Hunter 25. The main sheet system is original except for the line which was replaced fairly recently. The lower block has a pulley which has cracked leaving about 3/4 of the pully still working. This is the original merriman set up. What is the proper way to fix this item. I could order the pulley and replace it but that would require a machine shop as it is pop rivetted into the assembly. Since the unit is old and other pulleys will be doing the same should I just replace the bottom block assembly? Then at a later date replace the upper assembly. Should I just bite the bullet and replace it with an entire boom vang assembly of the proper size? Seems all options are very expensive and I am very thrify(cheap). Thanks for your opinions.
Proper way to fix main sheet problem
- Thread starter KennyH
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The cheap and good way to do it
is to do it yourself. Drill the heads off the rivets using a drill bit slightly larger than the rivet shank diameter and push/drive the rivets out with a long punch or similar tool. Replace the sheave and re-rivet the assembly. Simple, quick and cheap. You don't need a machine shop to drill something ,like this, just your everyday rechargeable drill.
is to do it yourself. Drill the heads off the rivets using a drill bit slightly larger than the rivet shank diameter and push/drive the rivets out with a long punch or similar tool. Replace the sheave and re-rivet the assembly. Simple, quick and cheap. You don't need a machine shop to drill something ,like this, just your everyday rechargeable drill.
the replacements
if you plan to keep the boat for awhile, you might want to think about replacing the whole main sheet system with new parts. After all, they're 26 years old. If one has failed, the others are not far behind. If you make a mickey-mouse repair and it fails at just the wrong time, (think Murphy) you'll wish you had done it better the first time. Do you take friends/family on the boat? Garhauer makes a very reasonably priced unit. One thing I've learned in 30 years of boating, you can't say "boat parts" and "cheap" in the same sentence and have it come out right for long. JMHO
if you plan to keep the boat for awhile, you might want to think about replacing the whole main sheet system with new parts. After all, they're 26 years old. If one has failed, the others are not far behind. If you make a mickey-mouse repair and it fails at just the wrong time, (think Murphy) you'll wish you had done it better the first time. Do you take friends/family on the boat? Garhauer makes a very reasonably priced unit. One thing I've learned in 30 years of boating, you can't say "boat parts" and "cheap" in the same sentence and have it come out right for long. JMHO
If you're as cheap as you say you are
then buy from Garhauer, they're the MOST inexpensive and best QUALITY around. You can't go wrong with them, even if your boat will start to look like a Catalina with those shiny new blocks!
then buy from Garhauer, they're the MOST inexpensive and best QUALITY around. You can't go wrong with them, even if your boat will start to look like a Catalina with those shiny new blocks!
Two Questions:
Does your boom clear the head of the tallest person you will have on the boat (ever)? Do you sail only downwind? If the answer to these questions is no, consider that you are risking the life of any person standing downwind of the boom on a close haul, should your repair job fail and the sheet give way. There has been lots of discussion on this site of people falling overboard. i think more people are injured every year by swinging booms.
Does your boom clear the head of the tallest person you will have on the boat (ever)? Do you sail only downwind? If the answer to these questions is no, consider that you are risking the life of any person standing downwind of the boom on a close haul, should your repair job fail and the sheet give way. There has been lots of discussion on this site of people falling overboard. i think more people are injured every year by swinging booms.
Thanks for the replies. Looks like a new system
I am very impressed with the new Garhauer blocks and they seem to be priced very well. Seems like this is the only smart way to go even if you are cheap. Thanks for all the input.
I am very impressed with the new Garhauer blocks and they seem to be priced very well. Seems like this is the only smart way to go even if you are cheap. Thanks for all the input.
another cheap way to go....
is to call a yacht surplus store, such as Minney's here in So Cal, and check their stock for the equipment you need. At Minney's, for instance, you'll find a lot of old/new Seaway and Nico blocks. A lot of the stuff was purchased new at liquidation sales and is resold for substantially less than Harken, Ronstan, Lewmar etc.
is to call a yacht surplus store, such as Minney's here in So Cal, and check their stock for the equipment you need. At Minney's, for instance, you'll find a lot of old/new Seaway and Nico blocks. A lot of the stuff was purchased new at liquidation sales and is resold for substantially less than Harken, Ronstan, Lewmar etc.
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