Chotu's Rigging Thread - Time to Go Fast

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I have a black Delrin anchor roller that is 6” diameter at the sides but of course it is much wider than a halyard sheave.

No problem after 15 years in tropical sun.

If you use high tech halyards, like a stripped one with a Dyneema core of 1/4” or 3/8” then I think you can go down in diameter as well.

That’s what I was thinking. My rudder bushings have been out there in the sun in Florida for a number of years. There is no degradation. They are Delrin. Regular Delrin.

I’ll investigate going down in size because that would let me buy off the shelf

[rslifkin]

I'll add another vote for delrin. It seems to hold up fine as an anchor roller, so I expect it would hold up fine for masthead sheaves.

[Chotu]

I feel like the Delrin is a good choice.

Super fast and easy to machine as well. So maybe I can get them quicker.

Someday if they get wobbly from wearing down, I could even add a metal insert to renew them.

I’m going to see if I can get Delrin replacements.

I’ve already reached out to some of the business is recommended but it’s the holiday weekend and nobody is looking at anything.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by Chotu

I feel like the Delrin is a good choice.

Super fast and easy to machine as well. So maybe I can get them quicker.

Someday if they get wobbly from wearing down, I could even add a metal insert to renew them.

I’m going to see if I can get Delrin replacements.

I’ve already reached out to some of the business is recommended but it’s the holiday weekend and nobody is looking at anything.

Because delrin is easy to machine, I'd also check with local machine shops. I'd expect one of them could pop a block of delrin on a lathe and make what you need.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

Because delrin is easy to machine, I'd also check with local machine shops. I'd expect one of them could pop a block of delrin on a lathe and make what you need.

Great minds. Lol

I was already getting together a list. A small hobbyist woodworking shop could make these if Delrin.

I could even do it if time wasn’t an issue.

Come to think of it…. Harbor freight lathe and Delrin blocks? Maybe easier and faster than dealing with a business and their wait times?

[Chotu]

Also, here is a picture of the current masthead sheaves. These are the worst part of the entire rig that I bought.

They appear to be metric as well.

[dlj]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Great minds. Lol

I was already getting together a list. A small hobbyist woodworking shop could make these if Delrin.

I could even do it if time wasn’t an issue.

Come to think of it…. Harbor freight lathe and Delrin blocks? Maybe easier and faster than dealing with a business and their wait times?

If you go that route, be sure to use really sharp tools for the machining...

You'll need a grinder with the right wheel to make your cutting tools. It's more than just a lathe and go. You'll want a nice smooth running surface for the line. You'll also likely want a reamer for the pivot - that needs to be just the right size. So you have a micrometer? Can you measure the pivot pin? Also, check to make sure that pivot pin is not worn...

dj

[dlj]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Also, here is a picture of the current masthead sheaves. These are the worst part of the entire rig that I bought.

They appear to be metric as well.

Missing pics?

dj

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by dlj

If you go that route, be sure to use really sharp tools for the machining...

You'll need a grinder with the right wheel to make your cutting tools. It's more than just a lathe and go. You'll want a nice smooth running surface for the line. You'll also likely want a reamer for the pivot - that needs to be just the right size. So you have a micrometer? Can you measure the pivot pin? Also, check to make sure that pivot pin is not worn...

dj

Picking up the micrometer right now.

I need that anyway to specify the sizing properly to any machine shop.

But I guess maybe this shouldn’t be a first time lathe project?

Kind of like your first boat build shouldn’t be a 50 foot catamaran? Lolol. But seriously. There is some actual skill involved in machining. So maybe it’s not a good idea to DIY after all


You can see from the picture of the current sheaves why I am not very interested in aluminum

[dlj]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Picking up the micrometer right now.

I need that anyway to specify the sizing properly to any machine shop.

But I guess maybe this shouldn’t be a first time lathe project?

Kind of like your first boat build shouldn’t be a 50 foot catamaran? Lolol. But seriously. There is some actual skill involved in machining. So maybe it’s not a good idea to DIY

A first time lathe project? I would think better a simpler project.

Talking to the machine shop, tell them the diameter of the pin. Then tell them you want a running fit, an RC7 would be my preference but you'd be fine with a RC8 or even an RC9. Those are just looser. But you have to know the condition of your pin. When you get your micrometer, measure close to each side of the pin and in the middle of the pin, do each of those measurements twice at 90 degrees from each other. You will want to see if you have any kind of taper or out of round condition on your pins.

dj

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by dlj

A first time lathe project? I would think better a simpler project.

Talking to the machine shop, tell them the diameter of the pin. Then tell them you want a running fit, an RC7 would be my preference but you'd be fine with a RC8 or even an RC9. Those are just looser. But you have to know the condition of your pin. When you get your micrometer, measure close to each side of the pin and in the middle of the pin, do each of those measurements twice at 90 degrees from each other. You will want to see if you have any kind of taper or out of round condition on your pins.

dj

Come on! I just picked up a brand new “My First Lathe (tm)”. Ha ha




But seriously, thank you very much for the advice. I will do exactly as you said. Are you a machinist? Those seem to be some pretty specific areas of knowledge you have.

[dlj]

Originally Posted by Chotu

But seriously, thank you very much for the advice. I will do exactly as you said. Are you a machinist? Those seem to be some pretty specific areas of knowledge you have.

I'm not a machinist anymore, but one of the ways I put myself through college was working as a machinist (long time ago). In my working life (I retired April 3rd this year), I did a lot of work with design engineers etc... at a number of levels... Hence, I've interfaced a lot with machinists.

When I stop sailing, I will likely do some "hobby" machining... Hard to have a machine shop on a sailboat...

dj

[s/v Jedi]

There was this question on the angle that a line goes from rope clutches to the winch. This is fixed by using a turning sheave:

Turning sheaves

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

There was this question on the angle that a line goes from rope clutches to the winch. This is fixed by using a turning sheave:

Turning sheaves

Luckily, I am not involved at that level.

That was the stuff I needed help with from the rigger. Laying out the running rigging. Deciding how to have it all go.

The guy I am working with is an absolute expert with all of this type of stuff. Professional Pedegree and all of that. Well-known. But overcommitted. He does a lot of different things in the sailing community and his time is quite limited. That’s why it’s taking forever.

He’s basically going to be telling me what to do. I’m going to be a rigger’s apprentice during this process.

I’ll also be running everything by you guys as well with pictures and stuff. Just to see if everybody agrees. And to help me see any options that I don’t know I have.

This is very much a case of I don’t know what I don’t know.

Typically I just buy a boat and sail it. I get used to whatever rigging is on it.

This was a blank canvas which frightened just about every other rigger on the East Coast. Most Riggers are not as fancy as we all make them out to be on the floor them. All they do is take existing rigging and buy a new identical piece and put it in. Or if they do a big upgrade like a bowsprit, they know which one to use because of sister ships. Then they order it and install it. That’s pretty much what they all do. The guy I got actually has significant rigging experience with multihulls. Was the main guy at gunboat actually. Invented the plinth they use in the 55.

He’s basically taking charge of these little details that I would spend weeks figuring out. He’s even gone so far as to properly color-code all of the lines which I wouldn’t even have known what to do with.

In the end, I will have a working rig and be able to sail the boat away from this area in about 30 days. And I will then have a rig that I can maintain and keep up because I’ll know it inside and out.

There may be a second visit here in the fall to make other small changes. Things that may not work well or are frustrating to use. I see this as a two phase approach but a approach where I can sail the boat after phase 1.

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by Chotu

In the end, I will have a working rig and be able to sail the boat away from this area in about 30 days. And I will then have a rig that I can maintain and keep up because I’ll know it inside and out.

June 30! The date is on my calendar!