Spot Intended for a Spinnaker Turning Block or Padeye?

[CapitalistSailor]

I have a 2000 Beneteau 311 which I bought last year. So far it's been great. Near the rear of each side deck there is a flat, square spot without non-skid that looks like it is intended for mounting a turning block or padeye for a spinnaker sheet/guy. The flat area is 1 1/2 to 2 inches (about 2 cm) on a side and there are 3 little dimples arranged in an equilateral triangle pattern. These dimples look like they are intended to aid in drilling screw or bolt holes. Does anyone know the intended use for this flat spot?

I am thinking about rigging up for an asymmetrical spinnaker and there are no places prearranged for running the sheets. How does Beneteau set up 311's for spinnakers? Perhaps Beneteau intended that the rear cleats would be used to attach blocks.

Thanks.

 

[Jackdaw]

The pad is pre-marked for one of these. A Wichard folding D-ring.

http://www.shopsoundboatworks.com/wi58fopap.html

To this on each side you would attach a large 76mm ratching block

This block can be set to spin free in light airs, but a non-reversing clicker can be turned on to help hold the sheet in a breeze. Beyond that (12 knots) you go to a winch.

http://www.harken.com/article.aspx?id=12827

 

[CapitalistSailor]

The pad is pre-marked for one of these. A Wichard folding D-ring.

http://www.shopsoundboatworks.com/wi58fopap.html

To this on each side you would attach a large 76mm ratching block

This block can be set to spin free in light airs, but a non-reversing clicker can be turned on to help hold the sheet in a breeze. Beyond that (12 knots) you go to a winch.

http://www.harken.com/article.aspx?id=12827

Jackdaw,

That looks like it will work for the padeye. Thanks. For the block, I imagine I will want one with a snap shackle attachment (or maybe a dyneema loop) so I don't have to leave it hooked up.

 

[Jackdaw]

Jackdaw,

That looks like it will work for the padeye. Thanks. For the block, I imagine I will want one with a snap shackle attachment (or maybe a dyneema loop) so I don't have to leave it hooked up.

Yea, it's the exact part required.

You can use a snap shackle for sure. But unless your are planning to use your spin only once or twice a year, I would recommend leaving the blocks attached on the deck. Simpler, cheaper, and I've seen more end up at the bottom when the owners are trying to set them up.

 

[FlorDLuna]

If your 311 has the aluminum toe rails at the gunnels, you might do what I did this spring on my 331. Wichard makes a removable D shaped cleat that clamps nicely on to the toe rail, and I put one on each side just forward of the stern cleats. Attached turning blocks with beckets to the Wichard cleats using snap shackles, and a little bungee line from the becket to stern pulpit keeps them hanging in the air and not bouncing on the deck when not in use or on the lazy sheet side. So far, rock solid. No drilling, and removeable. Also, lets me adjust the angle from the turning block to the winch if need be, although once it's dialed in there's no real reason to change it.

 

[CapitalistSailor]

If your 311 has the aluminum toe rails at the gunnels, you might do what I did this spring on my 331. Wichard makes a removable D shaped cleat that clamps nicely on to the toe rail, and I put one on each side just forward of the stern cleats. Attached turning blocks with beckets to the Wichard cleats using snap shackles, and a little bungee line from the becket to stern pulpit keeps them hanging in the air and not bouncing on the deck when not in use or on the lazy sheet side. So far, rock solid. No drilling, and removeable. Also, lets me adjust the angle from the turning block to the winch if need be, although once it's dialed in there's no real reason to change it.

FlorDLuna, thank you for the suggestion, but I cannot locate a Wichard removable cleat. I looked on the Wichard site and elsewhere. I did locate one by C. Sherman Johnson as shown in the attached picture. I also found an English company that makes a cleat that bolts to two holes in the toe rail. Is this cleat something like what you mean, or have I missed the point?

 

[FlorDLuna]

FlorDLuna, thank you for the suggestion, but I cannot locate a Wichard removable cleat. I looked on the Wichard site and elsewhere. I did locate one by C. Sherman Johnson as shown in the attached picture. I also found an English company that makes a cleat that bolts to two holes in the toe rail. Is this cleat something like what you mean, or have I missed the point?

Wichard calls it a toe rail pad eye. http://www.wichard.com/fiche-A|WICHARD|16613-0202030300000000-ME.html

 

[DougM]

The 323 with spinnaker gear has the Wichard pad eyes on the deck aft of the rear cleats. Blocks are meant to be attached there so that the spinnaker sheets can be run aft and then forward to the sheet winches. Alternatively, snatch blocks could be attached to the toenails in that vicinity. I would think the layout on your boat would be similar.

There is also a pad eye on the deck near the anchor roller bracket to be used for the tack line block. I believe Beneteau intended that the tack line should be cleated on the bow cleat. There is also an extra hole in the anchor roller bracket just forward of the forestay where a block can be attached. That helps to lead the tack line a bit more forward so that it doesn't interfere with the drum on the jib furler. Because using the bow cleat was somewhat inconvenient, I elected to run my tack line back through one of the spinlocks on the cabin top so that I could adjust the tack up or down as needed.

 

[Ron20324]

Depending on how much you use the setup, anything shackled to the toe rail will wear away the toe rail. You could change what hole you use, but I'd really put the pad eye in there and shackle a block to it. That's what OEM I have on my B323.

 

[CapitalistSailor]

DougM and Ron20324,

Thank you for your suggestions and reporting what was installed on your 323's. I'll crawl under the rear side decks next trip out and see whether I can access the undersides for installing backing plates and bolts. I will also look to see what I have on my 311 for attaching the tack at the bow. Getting the tack attachment out in front of the roller furler a little bit would be helpful.

I'm also going to attach a couple more blocks at the mast step for spinnaker/whisker pole lines so I need to measure one more time before I order.

 

[DougM]

DougM and Ron20324,

Thank you for your suggestions and reporting what was installed on your 323's. I'll crawl under the rear side decks next trip out and see whether I can access the undersides for installing backing plates and bolts. I will also look to see what I have on my 311 for attaching the tack at the bow. Getting the tack attachment out in front of the roller furler a little bit would be helpful.

I'm also going to attach a couple more blocks at the mast step for spinnaker/whisker pole lines so I need to measure one more time before I order.

I have wondered if there are actually backing plates molded into the deck at those areas on the quarter deck and on the front corners of the cabin top by the factory.
I have never investigated. Getting backing plates into the cabin top area would be a problem because of the cabin liner. It would be great if there were already plates there that could be drilled and tapped for the fasteners.