Wood yacht blocks

[Carlsboats]

Where can I get some how-to on making wood shell yacht blocks -- drawings, axle specs, sources for sheaves, etc.? About to launch a new, traditional day sailer, and have rigged it mostly with
thisnthat blocks from the box under my workbench. But eventually, this new girl in my life deserves to be fitted out with a full set of varnished wooden blocks, which I can afford only if I make them myself.

[Carlsboats]

Where can I get some how-to on making wood shell yacht blocks -- drawings, axle specs, sources for sheaves, etc.? About to launch a new, traditional day sailer, and have rigged it mostly with
thisnthat blocks from the box under my workbench. But eventually, this new girl in my life deserves to be fitted out with a full set of varnished wooden blocks, which I can afford only if I make them myself.

[Carlsboats]

Where can I get some how-to on making wood shell yacht blocks -- drawings, axle specs, sources for sheaves, etc.? About to launch a new, traditional day sailer, and have rigged it mostly with
thisnthat blocks from the box under my workbench. But eventually, this new girl in my life deserves to be fitted out with a full set of varnished wooden blocks, which I can afford only if I make them myself.

[Ken Hutchins]

Google up a thread I did about 18 months ago, send email if you have more ???

[Ken Hutchins]

Google up a thread I did about 18 months ago, send email if you have more ???

[Ken Hutchins]

Google up a thread I did about 18 months ago, send email if you have more ???

[Hughman]

What size?

I've had some luck with wood shell hardware blocks- the square edge ones with all the warning lables-

They can often be found at yard sales cheap, and be reworked on the router table with a round over bit and a belt sander to relieve the edges, and fill the rivit holes. Put your favorite coin over the pin.

Coat of varnish and you're done. not as elegant as Davis, but serviceable.

[Hughman]

What size?

I've had some luck with wood shell hardware blocks- the square edge ones with all the warning lables-

They can often be found at yard sales cheap, and be reworked on the router table with a round over bit and a belt sander to relieve the edges, and fill the rivit holes. Put your favorite coin over the pin.

Coat of varnish and you're done. not as elegant as Davis, but serviceable.

[Hughman]

What size?

I've had some luck with wood shell hardware blocks- the square edge ones with all the warning lables-

They can often be found at yard sales cheap, and be reworked on the router table with a round over bit and a belt sander to relieve the edges, and fill the rivit holes. Put your favorite coin over the pin.

Coat of varnish and you're done. not as elegant as Davis, but serviceable.

[capt jake]

Norm had a thread on this topic a couple of years back. He also had an in depth photo journal on Imagestation. I miss him........

[capt jake]

Norm had a thread on this topic a couple of years back. He also had an in depth photo journal on Imagestation. I miss him........

[capt jake]

Norm had a thread on this topic a couple of years back. He also had an in depth photo journal on Imagestation. I miss him........

[almeyer]

Derek Waters wrote an article some time ago in Duckworksmagazine.com on rope stropped wood blocks. Google to find it. They're pretty easy to make, look good, and work well, at least on my small boat.
Al

[almeyer]

Derek Waters wrote an article some time ago in Duckworksmagazine.com on rope stropped wood blocks. Google to find it. They're pretty easy to make, look good, and work well, at least on my small boat.
Al

[almeyer]

Derek Waters wrote an article some time ago in Duckworksmagazine.com on rope stropped wood blocks. Google to find it. They're pretty easy to make, look good, and work well, at least on my small boat.
Al

[Jay Greer]

"The Marlin Spike Sailor" by Harvey Garret Smith, has a chapter on making stropped blocks. Ed Louchard at Zephyr Works can make sheaves for you.

[Jay Greer]

"The Marlin Spike Sailor" by Harvey Garret Smith, has a chapter on making stropped blocks. Ed Louchard at Zephyr Works can make sheaves for you.

[Jay Greer]

"The Marlin Spike Sailor" by Harvey Garret Smith, has a chapter on making stropped blocks. Ed Louchard at Zephyr Works can make sheaves for you.

[Todd Bradshaw]

Making wooden blocks is habit forming and pretty fun. Once you make a couple for a nice wooden boat it's hard to go back to store-bought blocks. They just don't look right any more. You can also drill out the axle/rivet thing on Harkens and pull out the ball-bearing sheaves (they also sell just the sheaves seperately) and being black, they kind of fade into the woodwork if you want some high-tech mostly-wooden blocks. Another source for sheaves are those pot metal blocks that are sold in most hardware stores. Some have nice brass sheaves that can be pulled out - and they're pretty cheap. For small boats, turned wooden sheaves work decently as well.

For some reason I've always hated the vang setups with hanging camcleats or jamcleats attached to blocks. I can't say exactly why, but they bug me. I'd rather route the vang line aft once it passes through that last bottom sheave and to a fixed cleat somewhere. Doing this would also allow you to build a plain block, or fiddle-block for the bottom of the vang tackle without having to incorporate a cleat into the home-made block.

[Todd Bradshaw]

Making wooden blocks is habit forming and pretty fun. Once you make a couple for a nice wooden boat it's hard to go back to store-bought blocks. They just don't look right any more. You can also drill out the axle/rivet thing on Harkens and pull out the ball-bearing sheaves (they also sell just the sheaves seperately) and being black, they kind of fade into the woodwork if you want some high-tech mostly-wooden blocks. Another source for sheaves are those pot metal blocks that are sold in most hardware stores. Some have nice brass sheaves that can be pulled out - and they're pretty cheap. For small boats, turned wooden sheaves work decently as well.

For some reason I've always hated the vang setups with hanging camcleats or jamcleats attached to blocks. I can't say exactly why, but they bug me. I'd rather route the vang line aft once it passes through that last bottom sheave and to a fixed cleat somewhere. Doing this would also allow you to build a plain block, or fiddle-block for the bottom of the vang tackle without having to incorporate a cleat into the home-made block.

[Todd Bradshaw]

Making wooden blocks is habit forming and pretty fun. Once you make a couple for a nice wooden boat it's hard to go back to store-bought blocks. They just don't look right any more. You can also drill out the axle/rivet thing on Harkens and pull out the ball-bearing sheaves (they also sell just the sheaves seperately) and being black, they kind of fade into the woodwork if you want some high-tech mostly-wooden blocks. Another source for sheaves are those pot metal blocks that are sold in most hardware stores. Some have nice brass sheaves that can be pulled out - and they're pretty cheap. For small boats, turned wooden sheaves work decently as well.

For some reason I've always hated the vang setups with hanging camcleats or jamcleats attached to blocks. I can't say exactly why, but they bug me. I'd rather route the vang line aft once it passes through that last bottom sheave and to a fixed cleat somewhere. Doing this would also allow you to build a plain block, or fiddle-block for the bottom of the vang tackle without having to incorporate a cleat into the home-made block.

[Todd Bradshaw]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid177/pecf07613f889c161715ad8b59ac25a5a/f33b0bc8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid177/pe3a71883ab47cd19fbe8383a05c6d336/f33b0bdc.jpg

[Todd Bradshaw]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid177/pecf07613f889c161715ad8b59ac25a5a/f33b0bc8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid177/pe3a71883ab47cd19fbe8383a05c6d336/f33b0bdc.jpg

[Todd Bradshaw]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid177/pecf07613f889c161715ad8b59ac25a5a/f33b0bc8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid177/pe3a71883ab47cd19fbe8383a05c6d336/f33b0bdc.jpg

[Stu Fyfe]

Nice illustrations, as always, Todd!

[Stu Fyfe]

Nice illustrations, as always, Todd!

[Stu Fyfe]

Nice illustrations, as always, Todd!

[StevenBauer]

Capt, Norm's imagestation albums are still accessible. Go here: http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292182403

And look for the drop down menu "other public albums by NGMessinger"

There are over thirty albums, each one beter than the last.

Steven

[StevenBauer]

Capt, Norm's imagestation albums are still accessible. Go here: http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292182403

And look for the drop down menu "other public albums by NGMessinger"

There are over thirty albums, each one beter than the last.

Steven

[StevenBauer]

Capt, Norm's imagestation albums are still accessible. Go here: http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292182403

And look for the drop down menu "other public albums by NGMessinger"

There are over thirty albums, each one beter than the last.

Steven

[capt jake]

Capt, Norm's imagestation albums are still accessible. Go here: See, great information on some quality blocks and the opportunity to remember a great fellow! I thought taht Norm did an excellent job on those blocks. He sent me some of his CAD drawings of these as well. Nice fellow, and sorely missed. :(

[capt jake]

Capt, Norm's imagestation albums are still accessible. Go here: See, great information on some quality blocks and the opportunity to remember a great fellow! I thought taht Norm did an excellent job on those blocks. He sent me some of his CAD drawings of these as well. Nice fellow, and sorely missed. :(

[capt jake]

Capt, Norm's imagestation albums are still accessible. Go here: See, great information on some quality blocks and the opportunity to remember a great fellow! I thought taht Norm did an excellent job on those blocks. He sent me some of his CAD drawings of these as well. Nice fellow, and sorely missed. :(

[Tristan]

Being thrice blessed, about 30 years ago I acquired a large amount (150 lbs or so) of Lignum vitae. I used this to turn blocks for a 30' Bawley Cutter (also turned the dead eyes and belaying pins from Lignum vitae). Lignum vitae is a very oily wood, and is a joy to turn. I've used both wood turning lathes and metal turning laths on this wood with equally good results. The blocks were rope stropped with bronze pins (cut from a bronze rod) which was held in place by the stropping. The sheaves were also turned from Lignum vitae and held up fine. Question: Some of you guys know much more than I about block building. What woods (besides Lignum vitae and white oak) would you recommend for dead eye and block building? How about wooden sheaves? Finally, I also have a bit of Locust which I use for cleats. Any other woods you would recommend for cleats?

[Tristan]

Being thrice blessed, about 30 years ago I acquired a large amount (150 lbs or so) of Lignum vitae. I used this to turn blocks for a 30' Bawley Cutter (also turned the dead eyes and belaying pins from Lignum vitae). Lignum vitae is a very oily wood, and is a joy to turn. I've used both wood turning lathes and metal turning laths on this wood with equally good results. The blocks were rope stropped with bronze pins (cut from a bronze rod) which was held in place by the stropping. The sheaves were also turned from Lignum vitae and held up fine. Question: Some of you guys know much more than I about block building. What woods (besides Lignum vitae and white oak) would you recommend for dead eye and block building? How about wooden sheaves? Finally, I also have a bit of Locust which I use for cleats. Any other woods you would recommend for cleats?

[Tristan]

Being thrice blessed, about 30 years ago I acquired a large amount (150 lbs or so) of Lignum vitae. I used this to turn blocks for a 30' Bawley Cutter (also turned the dead eyes and belaying pins from Lignum vitae). Lignum vitae is a very oily wood, and is a joy to turn. I've used both wood turning lathes and metal turning laths on this wood with equally good results. The blocks were rope stropped with bronze pins (cut from a bronze rod) which was held in place by the stropping. The sheaves were also turned from Lignum vitae and held up fine. Question: Some of you guys know much more than I about block building. What woods (besides Lignum vitae and white oak) would you recommend for dead eye and block building? How about wooden sheaves? Finally, I also have a bit of Locust which I use for cleats. Any other woods you would recommend for cleats?

[Hughman]

Originally posted by Tristan:
What woods (besides Lignum vitae and white oak) would you recommend for dead eye and block building? How about wooden sheaves? Finally, I also have a bit of Locust which I use for cleats. Any other woods you would recommend for cleats?species with interlocked grain make the best wood for hart blocks, dead eyes etc. Osage orange (bois'd'arc, hedge apple) is great for this. Persimmon should work, if you can find it. Locust, Live Oak, and Beech, too.

[Hughman]

Originally posted by Tristan:
What woods (besides Lignum vitae and white oak) would you recommend for dead eye and block building? How about wooden sheaves? Finally, I also have a bit of Locust which I use for cleats. Any other woods you would recommend for cleats?species with interlocked grain make the best wood for hart blocks, dead eyes etc. Osage orange (bois'd'arc, hedge apple) is great for this. Persimmon should work, if you can find it. Locust, Live Oak, and Beech, too.

[Hughman]

Originally posted by Tristan:
What woods (besides Lignum vitae and white oak) would you recommend for dead eye and block building? How about wooden sheaves? Finally, I also have a bit of Locust which I use for cleats. Any other woods you would recommend for cleats?species with interlocked grain make the best wood for hart blocks, dead eyes etc. Osage orange (bois'd'arc, hedge apple) is great for this. Persimmon should work, if you can find it. Locust, Live Oak, and Beech, too.

[Tristan]

Originally posted by Hughman:
[/qb]species with interlocked grain make the best wood for hart blocks, dead eyes etc. Osage orange (bois'd'arc, hedge apple) is great for this. Persimmon should work, if you can find it. Locust, Live Oak, and Beech, too.[/QB][/QUOTE]

Come to think of it, I do have some baulks of live oak (courtesy of Fla. Power and Light, who cut off some branches last year). Now if I can manage to cut the damn stuff maybe I can use it. We tried to split some of it for campfire wood last winter and SH-T! wore ourselves out but precious little success splitting it (with a splitting axe too!). All the other woods are not found in S. Florida, though we do have "Crab wood," also called Oyster wood, Gymnanthes lucida, a tropical hardwood which is "hard as Billy's dick," and excellent for making fids. I don't cut live trees out of Keys hammocks, but one occasionally runs across hurricane or fire killed pieces in the hardwood hammocks. Guess I'll start chain sawing on my live oak logs and searching my books for other tropical hardwoods. I once had a small piece of Osage orange and showed it to an old Arkansaws carpenter, "That's 'Bodark,' he said (his way of pronouncing Bois d'arc

[ 07-18-2005, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]

[Tristan]

Originally posted by Hughman:
[/qb]species with interlocked grain make the best wood for hart blocks, dead eyes etc. Osage orange (bois'd'arc, hedge apple) is great for this. Persimmon should work, if you can find it. Locust, Live Oak, and Beech, too.[/QB][/QUOTE]

Come to think of it, I do have some baulks of live oak (courtesy of Fla. Power and Light, who cut off some branches last year). Now if I can manage to cut the damn stuff maybe I can use it. We tried to split some of it for campfire wood last winter and SH-T! wore ourselves out but precious little success splitting it (with a splitting axe too!). All the other woods are not found in S. Florida, though we do have "Crab wood," also called Oyster wood, Gymnanthes lucida, a tropical hardwood which is "hard as Billy's dick," and excellent for making fids. I don't cut live trees out of Keys hammocks, but one occasionally runs across hurricane or fire killed pieces in the hardwood hammocks. Guess I'll start chain sawing on my live oak logs and searching my books for other tropical hardwoods. I once had a small piece of Osage orange and showed it to an old Arkansaws carpenter, "That's 'Bodark,' he said (his way of pronouncing Bois d'arc

[ 07-18-2005, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]

[Tristan]

Originally posted by Hughman:
[/qb]species with interlocked grain make the best wood for hart blocks, dead eyes etc. Osage orange (bois'd'arc, hedge apple) is great for this. Persimmon should work, if you can find it. Locust, Live Oak, and Beech, too.[/QB][/QUOTE]

Come to think of it, I do have some baulks of live oak (courtesy of Fla. Power and Light, who cut off some branches last year). Now if I can manage to cut the damn stuff maybe I can use it. We tried to split some of it for campfire wood last winter and SH-T! wore ourselves out but precious little success splitting it (with a splitting axe too!). All the other woods are not found in S. Florida, though we do have "Crab wood," also called Oyster wood, Gymnanthes lucida, a tropical hardwood which is "hard as Billy's dick," and excellent for making fids. I don't cut live trees out of Keys hammocks, but one occasionally runs across hurricane or fire killed pieces in the hardwood hammocks. Guess I'll start chain sawing on my live oak logs and searching my books for other tropical hardwoods. I once had a small piece of Osage orange and showed it to an old Arkansaws carpenter, "That's 'Bodark,' he said (his way of pronouncing Bois d'arc

[ 07-18-2005, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]

[*LB]

The latest issue of "Messing About In Boats" (7/15/05) has an article on building your own blocks.

[*LB]

The latest issue of "Messing About In Boats" (7/15/05) has an article on building your own blocks.

[*LB]

The latest issue of "Messing About In Boats" (7/15/05) has an article on building your own blocks.