[Public-List] Main Halyard Sheave (First Generation Boats)

[laserandy at aol.com]

 Rachel,

I put together the group buy through Ed Louchard of Zephyr Werks.? The sheaves were black delrin with oil impregnated bronze bushings, a V-groove set up to take either wire or rope.? The sheave fit my boat (152) perfectly, without any modification.? It's probably the slickest working piece of gear on the boat at the moment.? 

Rope sits fine in the sheave, the V profile rather than the U profile makes it work.? The wire was prone to jamming, and was much harder on hands, but the rope is always easy to use.? I think we ended up with 3/8, although it might have been 7/16" line.? Either one will probably work.? 

The sheave is a direct replacement for the phenolic/Tufnol sheave.? If I were doing it again, I would not do the swap with the head of the mast hanging over the water, the cheek pieces on mine are not attached and when you pull the bolt, they can fall out.? Fortunately we did not lose any pieces, but were I doing it again, I would not take that chance.

I think a few others have swapped out the sheaves with the Zephyr sheave, did anyone have to do any fabrication or cutting to make it work?

Andrew




Message: 3
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 03:32:12 -0500
From: Rachel <penokee at cheqnet.net>
Subject: [Public-List] Main halyard sheave? (first-generation boats)
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
    <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Message-ID: <1455ad1e72b6f797d303144535d7726f at cheqnet.net>
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While we're at the top of the mast, I have a question about the main 
halyard sheave (and the halyard).

I've read what I can find from the list and the halyard discussion on 
the collaboration page; and also the page on the .org site that shows a 
sheave.

Here are my questions:

1) I'd like to go to an all-rope main halyard, and now is the time, so 
I'm thinking maybe a new sheave is in order (?)  The groove in the 
existing one is fairly rounded (i.e. not v-shaped), but also quite 
narrow.

2)  Does anyone have the specs for a first-generation sheave?  Or can 
they tell me if the group order one fit their boat?
The one shown on the .org site

here: http://www.alberg30.org/maintenance/SparsSailsRigging/MainSheave/

is aluminum, and it looks like mine is Tufnol (or similar - looks like 
the brown fabric made into a solid, like Garolite).  Also, in my crude 
measurements, I got closer to 6" (but that was before I read 6.5" on 
the site; I'll have to recheck that.

3) Zephyr Sheave Werks says they have made sheaves for A-30s - is that 
where the group buy came from?  Again, were they all the same or were 
there age variations?  He can make a new one for me easily if he can 
just use the specs he has on hand, but I would like it to fit of 
course!

4) Has anyone gone to all rope with the original Tufnol sheave?

5) Since the sheave itself is only about 1/2" in diameter, and fits in 
an aluminum "tray," how does a new sheave allow for larger line?  Are 
the "shoulders" just skinnier?

Thanks as always for your input,

Rachel
#221