Spinlocks for 23.5 Jib Sheets

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Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
Has anyone installed the newer Spinlock PXR0810 on a 23.5? (My boat was built in late '94 and sold as a '95)

I am about to replace the existing horn cleats with the PXR0810 which works with the 3/8" jib sheets so I can single hand it when I can't find a crew on those ideal sailing days. My question is regarding the mounting hardware and existing fastener holes.

Previous threads indicated that the horn cleat hole spacing was the same as the superseded PX0810. The hole spacing on my horn cleats is approx. 1-5/16" and the new PXR0810 is 2-1/4"

Previous threads also stated that the fastener holes in the cleat were bored from 3/16" to 1/4". I thought that would jeopardize the integrity of the shear load resistance of the cleat base.:naughty: --Has anyone who has installed in this manner had any problems?

Suggestions???
 
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Jun 2, 2004
3,612
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Sounds Like Your Going to ba a Pioneer

The issue with the screw size on the Spinlocks is the screw head size. The Spinlocks were made for a metric screw between a 1/4 and a #12 maybe a #10 I do not remember. Sound to me like you'd be better off drilling and tapping new holes and using the screws that were intended.

The advantantage of using the larger 1/4" screws was to use the already there holes so if you have to put in new holes any way just use the other size screws.
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
tapping?

you'd be better off drilling and tapping new holes and using the screws that were intended.

Rick, your old thread is the one where I got the idea of using the cleat so, I'm glad to get your input. You mentioned drilling and tapping... Is there not a backing plate on the cabin side of the hull? Obviously I haven't looked behind the removable cover yet to see what anchors the existing cleat in place. (My boat is in the slip 30 miles from here and we are in the middle of a late season blizzard) I was anticipating drilling a hole thru the deck and using fender washers and locknuts to secure the new PXR. Is this not the correct way to mount the cleat? I'm trying to get an idea of what I need to pick up from the hardware store so I don't have to make the typical 3-4 round trips to get it right. Thanks for your input.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,612
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Not Sure You Can Get to the Bottom of the Plate

The access plate you see in for the winches. You will not be able to get to the bottom of the screws going through the plate. I am not sure how large the embedded plate is.

It may be a better idea to mount a block in place of the horn cleats using the 1/4" screws and the using #10 or #12 ( I forget which)screws into the block. If you can determine the size of the aluminum plate in the fiberglass and it is large enough (more than 2 1/2") then go ahead with drilling and tapping.
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
Great suggestions

Rick,

Do you know what the approx. depth (distance below the mating surface of the existing horn cleat) of the aluminum plate and how thick do you think it is? Sure I'll discover this when I remove the horn cleat but as I stated before, don't want to make 4 trips to the hardware store. I just visited the Spinlock site and the PXR0810 indicates the fasteners as such: 2 X M5 (2 X 3/16")with a CSK head. I have considered the block idea and considered using a phenolic material (like plastic cutting boards are made of) about 1/2 -3/4" thick.

How have your PX cleats held up?

Thanks for all the advice.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,612
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
1/2" Screws Should do Certainly 3/4" Will

There is about two or three inches between the headliner and the deck so do not worry about going too long.

If the backup plate is not large enough to get both screws into you could get one into it and maybe epoxy a nut countersunk into the bottom of the spacer to put a machine screw into for the other. I am not sure how well a wood screw would hold into the starboard.

I had to replace one of my Spinlocks it cracked somwhere I can't remember now. Wish I had known they were changing them I'd have bought a couple of spares.
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
Thanks for all the info.

I have decided and already designed a 1/2" thick block made from stainless that will have counter sink thru holes spaced for the existing 1/4" and drilled and tapped holes for the 3/16" fasteners as recommended by spinlock. Now we'll see how much I get gouged by the local machine shops to fab these parts.:cry:
 
Aug 11, 2006
1,446
Hunter H260 Traverse City
I drilled through to the cabin and because there was an access hatch there was able to place a bolt and washer on the back side. My wife has long skinny fingers and helped. I used a little silicon to hold the washer in place while I tightened it up.

Even if there is no convenient access hatch there you could make one. For another purpose I used a circle saw to make the hatch and then placed a circular vent in the hole and painted it. Looks like it was installed by the factory.

More at: http://h260.com/spinlock/spinlock.html
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
Dimensions??

Rick or George,

Do either of you know what the existing hole spacing is for the jib sheet horn cleats? The last time out, I didn't have a rule so I improvised and marked a piece of cardboard on the two screw centers as best I could. That dimension was approximately 1-5/16".

Thanks
 
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Jun 2, 2004
3,612
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
It is the Same as the Old spinlocks

I'll be out at the boat tomorrow I'll try to measure them then
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
Defender has a few of the old cleats in stock.

Happy to report that Defender has the PX0812 Cleats. They had 14 in stock, I ordered 3, one for a spare, just in case. That should make the install much easier and not quite as costly.

Rick, George, any tips as to how you installed your cleats would be greatly appreciated.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,612
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
It's Simple Then

Counter sink the cleat so that a 1/4 X 20 flat head screw will fit. It does not take much and you should use a counter sink bit.

Bed it in some silicone and screw it in.

I added a teak block to make it easier to snap the line in. The teak pad is the same size as the spot on the deck where the cleats go.
 
Aug 11, 2006
1,446
Hunter H260 Traverse City
Rick or George,

Do either of you know what the existing hole spacing is for the jib sheet horn cleats? The last time out, I didn't have a rule so I improvised and marked a piece of cardboard on the two screw centers as best I could. That dimension was approximately 1-5/16".

Thanks
Dave L:
There are pictures and a narrative at this link: http://h260.com/spinlock/spinlock.html
 
J

John Asch

WVSC

Dave: Welcome to WVSC. I've got the 26.5 east of the storage building (until launch day). Look me up sometime when you're at the lake.
 
Dec 14, 2007
42
Hunter 23.5 Thibodaux, LA 70301
Dave,
I installed the PX0812 Cleats on my boat this past weekend. The hardest part was removing the existing screws and horn cleats. A few wacks with a hammer while turning the screwdriver did free up the stuck screws.... (use a big screw driver)

I did re-use the existing screws on my px0812 cleats... I just used a dermal tool to "open" up the area where the head of the screw was hitting the plastic and increased the size of the mounting holes on the spin locks to the size of the screws.

I thought about adding a mounting plate but decided to us the "wedge" that is included in the package. I have yet to "sail" on the lake with my new spinlocks but I did "test" them while tied to the dock and was impressed with how they worked.

Good luck and keep sailing.
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
Thanks to all

You have all been very helpful, The information you shared makes me very confident with the decision to replace the horn cleats with the spinlocks. Your tips on installing them saved me several trips to the hardware store. (That equates to more sailing time):dance:

Thank You :clap:
Dave L
 

Dave L

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Nov 30, 2008
22
Hunter 28.5 El Dorado Lake, Kansas
WVSC

Dave: Welcome to WVSC. I've got the 26.5 east of the storage building (until launch day). Look me up sometime when you're at the lake.

Thanks John, I look forward to meeting you. I'll be at the lake on the club launch day (pending our unpredictable Kansas weather)... If you could use an extra hand launching your 26.5, let me know. My 23.5 is in slip A35.
 
Oct 5, 2008
12
Hunter 23.5 Clermont
Jib sheet blocks..

I fastened a block of teak to the cabin roof, now I can use a cam cleat to secure the jib sheets, or route the sheets around the winch and thru the cam cleat. Easy to single hand this way, or to just tweak the jib sheets. I replace the bolts on the oriiginal cleat to go through the block and screw into the original plate in the roof.
 

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