Budget rig hardware

[seadago]

hehehe
For all budget and/or cost-conscious sailors out there!

I'm installing solar panels on the coach roof. This means I have to redirect the lines coming for the main mast; 6 of them (as a minimum).
(For context, I have a Freedom 30 Cat Ketch. All running lines from the main run over the cabin roof to the cockpit)

Looked at different options, but when I calculated the budget for each, I nearly had a heart attack!! In blocks alone to accommodate 12 mm lines (need 3 blocks per line X 6 lines), it was almost GBP 1000!!

So.... came up with the design below. All components sourced on eBay. I'll provide the links below.





#1 shackle, 316 SS, 8 mm dia pin - GBP 1.90 per unit
#2 ball bearings; 22 od X 8 id X 7mm wide - SS 316 with ceramic balls - GBP 2.29 per unit - Used for many things, but mostly for roller skaters...
#2 SS 316 washers, 8mm ID - GBP 6.20 for a bag of 100 = 6.2 pence per unit
#1 SS (I don't know the grade) 10 mm cable tie - which I had already, so not tallying...



.... oh.... and my labour... a couple of hours of creative design, 3 hours overall of material procurement on the computer (with leadtimes ranging from 48 hours to 2 weeks), and 8.5 mins of assembly per unit. Total cost per unit: GBP 4.25. Built 20 to have two extra/spare, so total cost of blocks reduced from just below GBP 1000, to 85 quid, including postage. Less than one tenth

Now, as to fitness for purpose:

Pros:
1) small(ish)... certainly compared to the 12 mm block commercially available.
2) can accommodate lines up to 14 mm dia
3) Negligible friction/resistance
4) Cero maintenance - if salt crystals get inside the bearings, wash with freshwater
5) Operational ratings - Ball bearings rated to 90 kg by manufacturer - more than enough for my purposes
6) in case of breakage/malfunction, 16 mins to disassemble. replace, and reassemble, plus one allen key - only tool required
7) they don't look too bad either

Cons:
1) can't think of one, really....

I think Larry Pardey would be proud of me...

Rafa

[model 10]

No, you need a sheave. Oh and the eye strap is too thin.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Concur on the eyestrap comment. As to needing a sheave, I'm undecided. Some of it depends on how sharp a turn the line is making, & the load on it. Especially given the radii of low friction rings. Which is what I'd suggest using if $ is an issue. But in not knowing the proposed deck hardware layout, as well as other possible options for same, it's tough to evaluate things. Got pics?

[seadago]

Thanks Gents for your comments

No pictures of the overall layout yet. Will take this w.e. and post.

Re eye strap, agree may be too thin. Not essential though. The D end of the shackle may be also attached with dyneema rope directly to whatever anchor point it will have on the deck. Quite a few commercial blocks have this arrangement.

Re grooved sheaves, for fiber lines (different if metal rope/wire) IMO they always add contact surface and generate additional friction. Rope will deform anyway under tension. But I agree the radius will have an influence.

I don't have an ideological position on this. In the end it's something very personal and debatable. Purpose of the post was to show (what I thought it was) an ingenious, bucket-and-spade technology, fit-for-pourpose, inexpensive solution to a fairly common scenario we all face at some point; i.e. needing a block somewhere, and not having one at hand.