Replacing turning blocks

[Bob S]

I have a C 30 with a damaged portside turning block that needs to be replaced. The block is bolted on through the cabin top, but the nuts appear to be behind the structural member that arches the cabin at the mast. Can access holes be drilled through this member to reach the nuts, and if so, must the holes be re-glassed, or can a cover/plug be fashioned to allow future access?

 

[Gerry, Newbury MA.]

Turning block replacement

Replaced mine on my '84 C30. I believe the screws go into a tapped backing plate set in to the deck. If they're frozen in as mine were soak 'em down with something like "PB Rustblaster". I've seen this stuff do incredible things. Good luck

 

[John]

replaced mine the hard way

I ordered replacement deck organizers (that act like turning blocks) for my 1984 C30 from Garhauer Marine. When I began trying to remove the screws I couldn’t make any rotational headway. Concerned about bunging up the head I chucked a Phillips bit into my impact hammer. The fit was great and it should have worked but it didn’t. The head was hopelessly bunged up. Not knowing exactly what my game plan was going to be I took an angle grinder and ground the heads right off the screws. Apparently the stainless steel screws were galled to the aluminum bushing running up the inside of the old deck organizer. I was able to disassemble the old organizers, rendering them junk. With the old deck organizer removed I was able to unscrew the two bolts that I had ground the heads off and which were still stick vertically out of the deck. In fact I think I used my fingers—they were that loose! If they hadn’t been I guess I would have done the double nut trick to use a wrench to back them out. The new ones from Garhauer fit perfectly. The bolt holes lined up exactly and the base was bed exactly the same way. I used stainless steel bolts to reattach them with real hex heads. Now I have delron ball bearing sheaves leading from new sheet stoppers to the mast sheave box! Yes, my experience was that there is a flat plate glassed into the deck with tapped screws holes. My advice is definitely try reusing that plate. Garry's advice sounds good and I wished I had asked him before I undertook this last July. At least you know that if you can't hose 'em down with chemicals there is another way, albeit invasive. Good Luck!