Need Small Bronze Blocks

[Clinton B Chase]

Help! I cannot finf affordable bronze blocks (sized fr 1/4" line) for my Shellback project. ABI marine makes decent ones, made overseas of course, but they are providing terrible service and there are no blocks to be found in the US. I found Reineck and Sons but they make pricey, but gorgeous, stuff. Anybody have a couple spare bronze blocks that they'd be willing to part with?

Cheers,
Clint

[almeyer]

Try Duckworks at http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/bronzeblocks/index.htm. Or as an alternate, make some rope stropped wood blocks. They'd look good on a Shellback.
Al

[kc8pql]

ABI marine makes decent ones, made overseas of course, but they are providing terrible service and there are no blocks to be found in the US.
ABI doesn't sell directly to retail customers I don't believe. Try here:
http://marinemailorder.com/products.php?category=Sailing%20Hardware

or here:
http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/4,17049.htm

[Thorne]

I got mine from Duckworks -- inexpensive and solid.

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/hardware/bronzeblocks/1-4eblock/PH-eyeblock1.jpg

[Ocean Spray]

Clint, I looked in vain for small traditional bronze blocks for my Nutshell Prams. Everything was either to large or to crude for a small boat. Because the sail was so small, I probably could have used used bronze rings lashed to the boom and attached to the outhaul as blocks for the mainsheet, cheap, traditional looking and functional.

[sv Lorelei]

I had ordered some from Jamestown Distributors for my Islay Skiff and they had them backordered from ABI for about three months. A few weeks ago they called up and told me they were cancelling the order because they didn't know when, if or whether they were ever going to be getting them in and didn't want to leave their customers hanging.

[merlinron]

clinton,
i have 4-1" dia. merrimann blocks and clevices from and old star boat i once had. i also have 2- jib sheet blocks on cars and tracks that might work for you. i was saving them to use on a boat i'm building, but have decided to use all wood blocks. these pieces are 1938 vintage. i wish i could put them on here for you to see, but i don't have a digicam. if interested, i can send you a snapshot of them, just pm me your address. i have no idea of thier value and it really doesn't matter, they will just sit around here and collect dust...the price will be real "right" if you get my drift!

[Dave Lesser]

Clinton,
Check your private messages.
DL

[paladin]

They are easy enough to make from flat bronze sheet and parts from defender/digikey/mcmaster carr.......send a private e-mail with a snail mail address if you want the patterns.

[George Ray]

Try the links in this old thread:

Sources of classic metal parts?
http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=18733

[Jeff Benagh]

I used bronze blocks from Hamilton Marine (similar to above). I recently installed some new hardware on a FG Daysailer.

In retrospect I wish I had used more modern hardware, despite the generally salty look of the Shellback. You will notice that, in the building guide, they are installing what look like Harken blocks which are available for about $10 each.

The disadvantages of the traditional (that I found):

* there isn't a good way to get the block close to the boom (I used a strap and a 3/16 or 1/8 chain link)
* the blocks are pretty heavy relative to the boom, often causing it to head off in the wrong direction
* I had to use some galvanized parts which left stains on the sails after a wet day
* to avoid the above, I could have lashed to the boom, but would have requred a high friction area to keep from slipping and couldn't figure this out without sacraficing quality of varnish on the boom

At one time (prior to stainless), were reasonably lightweight blocks with bails available in bronze for this application? Or is there another way?

Jeff

[rbgarr]

At one time (prior to stainless), were reasonably lightweight blocks with bails available in bronze for this application? Or is there another way?

Jeff

Yes. They looked like the small Ronstan or Schaefer blocks and were made by Merriman or Wilcox Crittenden (sp?) both companies out of the block business now (at least).

:(

Sometimes you can find them at marine consignment shops, yard sales, eBay, or abandoned rigs in garages, attics, etc. The latter is where I found some I use.

[sv Lorelei]

I take it back. ABI still makes 'em or has 'em made. Jamestown finally shipped my order a week or so ago. They're only for 1/4 inch line, so if you need larger you'll still have to scrounge.

[Thad Van Gilder]

more than once, I attached wood shells to harken blocks. 1/4" shells look cool and are quick to make and attach.

-Thad