Question on installing a block on M mast

[C Striker]

Hi Fellers,

I'm looking at those fine harken 140 pivot blocks with the clam cleat. Sure seems the right way to go, considering the rotating mast.

But how does it Exactly mount to the mast? Is that a pop rivot?

Any of you proud M owners feel like sharing any pics... please feel free.



thanks,
Erik

[parrothead]

Hi Erik,

3 pop rivets, to be precise.

[bluehawk]

I installed one of these on my 26 M for mainsheet halyard, and works very well. However, I decided to use small ss bolts, washers and locknuts to secure rather than pop rivets, to make sure it will never work loose, and it is a little bit of a PITA to get to, but with the mast down, and a pair of long needle nose pliers, it can be done. May be a little over kill, but it will never pull off.
Dean

[Highlander]

Here's both of mine mounted on both sides of the mast with SS Rivets they will not pull out thats also what is used to fit your goose kneck to the mast by the factory
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010014.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010012.jpg


Cheers J

[C Striker]

May be a little over kill, but it will never pull off.

The Charles Emerson Winchester approach. I too like to do 1 thing, very well, then move on.
My neighbor who used to charter his 80 footer in the Bahamas has a rivot gun. Also used them for the same thing and says the rivots will work fine.
But then he had to remind me to use the smallest rivots applicable, in case they had to be replaced later on!

thanks guys for the input,
Erik

[Highlander]

3/16 ss rivets is the rightsize & strength

J

[Bob Johnson]

Gentlemen,
Could you please advise part numbers for this Harken block, it looks like a great mod. In adittion to part number, do you take the main halyard back to the cockpit, do you use winch to give final tension to Main Sail halyard?

I look forward to your replies.

Regards Bob Johnson

[atzserv]

I added the Harken block that parrothead shows a picture of. I drilled and used nuts and bolts with washers ( SS of course). I was concerned about the load the block would take. The block is low enough on the mast to allow reaching inside to place the nuts and wrench. One of the other posts mentions pop rivets being used and that the goosneck is mounted with them, well my pop rivets on the goosneck came loose. I drilled and added nuts and bolts there also and have great strenght there now also.

Gary

[mikelinmon]

Seems like aluminum pop rivets are shown in your photo. Maybe too weak; I have used them and had them pull out. The SS pop rivets are plenty strong enough. But, they will wreck a cheap rivet gun, one use only, one rivet only. I now use sheet metal screws or self tapping screws. So far still tight. Best would be drill and tap, unless you are able to get your skinny friends hand up there it's too hard. This remains the best way to get halyards led aft on the rotating mast. I'm using this method on mainsail, jib, spinnaker and topping lift. The mast base is crowded, no room for anything else.
Mike Inmon

[parrothead]

Gentlemen,
Could you please advise part numbers for this Harken block, it looks like a great mod. In adittion to part number, do you take the main halyard back to the cockpit, do you use winch to give final tension to Main Sail halyard?

The Harken part number is 140 http://content.westmarine.com/images/ca ... 114546.jpg

The best price I could find online today is $77.99 http://www.intensitysails.com/ha1bigbublwi.html

Yes, you'll want to use a halyard long enough to reach back to the cockpit, but in my opinion - if you have sail slugs [the only way the Harken 140 makes sense] - there should be no need to use a winch to raise the main, body weight should be sufficient, especially if you spray the inside of the mast slot with Sailkote.

Seems like aluminum pop rivets are shown in your photo. Maybe too weak

The rivets in my photo are Stainless. I agree that you'll need a good gun for them, and the base of the mast is a place where bolts & nuts can be used - but in my case putting the mast up is now a once-a-season exercise, and I did the mod mid-season.

[Highlander]

For you's who would like to know

I done a little experimenting on Sun morn as I figured that as the shrouds are mounted onto the front of the mast and this does not effect the mast rotation neither does your jib halyard so I mounted both my jib & genny halyards as my boat is cutter rigged I have both. so I installed one double block on each side of the mast base. I run both my genny & jib halyards to the port side from the double mast base mounted block to a double deck foot block right in front of the sliding hatch from their back to my new double mounted rope clutches this leaves the side decks clear for walking on with-out worrying about tripping over any lines , on the starboard side I doubled up the d/b foot deck block only avail from mac fac . and now run my d/b line & storm sail halyard to the double rope clutches just in front of the winches , I now rotated the mast to see how much effort it took to rotate back & forth , now I loaded up all three halyards witch are mounted to the front of the mast their was virtually no more effort needed to rotate the mast , so this mod saved me about 140$ as I did not want to buy any more of the harken 140 swivel mast mounted cam cleats I have two now one for the spinn. & one for the mainsail halyards & with the dodger their not the easiest to unlock !
Yep count them 5 halyards , 4 headsails & one mainsail

J

[parrothead]

In case anyone is still looking, there's currently a Harken 140 on eBay [which is where I purchased mine a few years ago at well below list].

I have no connection to this current auction, just happened to get notified of it by eBay due to my purchasing history. Happy bidding

http://tinyurl.com/2dc57ne