I’m having some Isomat parts fabricated

[johnjuliano]

Everyone, I’ve been buying parts for my Isomat mast from a Rhode Island supplier and have not been happy with the quality of the parts.

The masthead sheaves from this vendor were a lightweight white plastic (Acetyl according to the company, not Acetal) that I could cut with a fingernail and had no bearing surface. The axle was just a piece of stainless steel pipe, not of a specific OD and not an axle.

For the gooseneck, the bearings called cylinders (NB1-3) were cast plastic with bubbles that, of course, fractured. The gooseneck bearing holder called a toggle (NB1-4) also cracked.

I now buy sheaves from a supplier in Port Townsend, zephyrwerks.com, which makes them with self-lubricating bearings. Ed Louchard is a remarkable craftsman.

Ed also made all the rollers for the boom and the replacement bearings (cylinder). See the pictures, below.

In the pictures of the toggle, you can see the casting line on the side and the crack at the top. I’m not certain of the sequence: the bearing shattered, the toggle cracked, and the holder for the bearing, which is part of the goose casting, also cracked. It was an expensive failure.

All of the sheaves shown were made by Ed at Zephyr works, as were the bearings (cylinders).

I am having some toggles made from a CNC machine shop in Boat Haven here in Port Townsend.

Set up for the toggle (bearing holder) is $150 plus $15 per toggle.

Set up for the bearing (cylinder) is $50 plus $10 per bearing. Ed can also make these.

The parts made by the machine shop will be whatever the non-trade name of Delrin is (POM? this not my area of expertise).

I’m not having any more bearings made for me. But I can also place an order for the bearings (cylinder) and ship those with the toggles.

If you would like any of these parts I will split the cost among the number of pieces ordered and ship these at whatever shipping cost is.

I must place the order by the 7th because I am flying on the 15th up to Homer where our boat is on the hard at Northern Enterprises.

DM’ing me is probably the best way to contact me.

Best,

–john