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handling hardware |
The original mainsheet blocks as well as the blocks for the furling line as supplied by Sabre were made by Schaefer and the sheaves rode on bushings rather than ball bearings. This meant that there was a fair amount of friction associated with each block. In the case of the mainsheet this friction meant that easing the mainsheet in light air often involved manually pushing the boom out to leeward.
The furling blocks were shackled to the stanchion bases leaving the furling line on deck where it was a constant tripping hazard. The new blocks would eliminate this problem.
I replaced the mainsheet blocks with Stainless Steel Lite Blocks of a ball bearing design manufactured by Garhauer Marine. I used one #40-12SL (single block with becket and fixed shackle) on the aftermost boom bail, one #40-01SL (fiddle block with swivel shackle) on the traveler car, and a total of three #40-11SL (single block with fixed shackle) on the forward boom bail, as well as at the goosneck and also at the aluminum mast collar.
Total cost to upgrade mainsheet blocks: $191.18
I selected three Schaefer #SCH506-44 Ball Bearing Clear Step Outside Lead Furling Blocks that mount to the stanchions using an allen set screw. These were placed on the first 3 stanchions aft of the bow pulpit. I used the existing Harken pulpit mounted block as well as the Harken Little Hexaratchet block on the after boarding gate stanchion. This arrangement kept the deck clear of the furling line all the way from the boarding gate forward to the bow pulpit as well as providing minimal friction as a result of all the sheaves riding on ball bearing races.
Total cost to upgrade furling blocks: $90.18
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