Making Your Own Deadeyes

[Ben M-P]

Great thread.
Has any one used black locust for rigging components?

[bruce smith]

black locust deadeyes, 25years old. (oak on bottom part0

[pressuredrop]

Originally Posted by geckosenator

Yeah, I was thinking just using all stainless thimbles, then use shackles to attach to chainplates?

wanted to give this a bump to see if using shackles attached to the chainplates is feasable?

considering doing the same now but any s.s. shackle that is a reasonable size has a terribly low load rating (i.e. an order of magnitude lower then the rest of the rigging components)

should i be looking for shackles of another material? or...

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by pressuredrop

wanted to give this a bump to see if using shackles attached to the chainplates is feasable?

considering doing the same now but any s.s. shackle that is a reasonable size has a terribly low load rating (i.e. an order of magnitude lower then the rest of the rigging components)

should i be looking for shackles of another material? or...

Take a look at the sheaffer single eye-jaw toggle. They will mate nicely with a thimble termination on Dyneema.

You can get them in the pin size that matches your chainplate holes, and the strength rating throughout the fitting is designed to match the diameter of the clevis pin. So if the boat builder sized your chainplate right this toggle fitting will not be your weak link.

I just bought two toggles in 5/8" for this application. The space between the jaws (on mine) is a little larger than the diameter of the pin, so for example if the clevis is 5/8" diameter the width of the thimble can be 5/8" because the space is a hair larger than that. If getting a different size, check that measurement before you buy.

[Blue Stocking]

A 90ft cat passed thru here a few weeks back that had synthetic deadeyes on the shrouds, with the lower turns made around a horizontal st steel bar supported by two ears.

[barnakiel]

Titanium should work well too.

b.

[Skylark]

Where can I learn how to rig my 28 foot sloop with dyneema?

[boatsmith]

I like to use the dyneema for the deadeye lanyards as it is very slippery which makes it easier to get the shrouds really tight. I leave a tail long enough to tie a halyard to it and use a winch to whale on it. The dyneema will needs several knots to prevent it from sliding. This method has worked very well for me.

[Hotboy]

Knothead I like the photos of your deadeyes. Well crafted.
Hotboy

[Mark Johnson]

For anyone thinking about DUX synthetic rigging, if you haven't already done so, check out the past post by Jack Molan. He has compiled a VAST amount of information on the subject, and is currently subjecting himself to his own medicine. He cruises on his "all synthetic" Searunner 34 in the Sea of Cortez.

I consider him and Colligo Marine authorities on the subject.

Regarding the cost of deadeyes... I have 40 years of experience at fabricating both boats and all of their parts. I could NEVER make deadeyes (of any material), as neat, well made, strong, and long lived, as those offered by Colligo Marine... AT THEIR COST! They are set up for it, I am not. In small volume, the "setup" is most of the cost.

They are expensive, but if your time is worth anything at all, they are a good deal. I had Colligo make up my runners, and have been impressed by both Dux rigging and their terminators. For my application, I was quite pleased.

One observation so far... Over an 80 degree temperature range, synthetic doesn't expand and contract with the mast, so tune will change with temperature. On a really cold morning, my runners are considerably looser. With wire rigging, this isn't the case. Presumably, it is that the wire AND mast both being of metal, make them expand and contract together?

If one tunes the rig in warm seasons, and also sails in warm seasons, this should not be an issue.

Mark

[barnakiel]

What about the potential of having a synthetic shroud cut by accident?

b.

[Mark Johnson]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

What about the potential of having a synthetic shroud cut by accident?

b.

Hopefully this will get you to some answers on DUX. It is VERY resistant to cutting, but a hacksaw would do it. It is supposed to have a similar lifespan to wire, at a fraction of the weight, and if you size it large to minimize "creep", it will be twice as strong, with similar stretch, but more windage. "Creep" MAY require taking in some more tension on occasion, if you keep a tight rig.

I'm not the authority, it's Jack... M.

Look at ALL POSTS by Jack Molan for more information than you ever wanted about this stuff.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ics-30405.html

[unbusted67]

What about just plane old Nylon. It has the same compressive/tensile strength as delrin and can be used as a filament in most 3d printers