Mainsheet block attachment

Setting up the boat again after the winter refurb led me to think about my temporary arrangement for the mainsheet block. In my original article on mainsheets where I first talked about Kirby Sheeting, the block was simply tied around the thwart.

This works ok, but it can get in the way of the centreboard and it tends to flop around and get tangled up in itself during races.

Maybe time for a more permanent place for it?

Plus the rules allow you to have a small platform behind the thwart for attaching the mainsheet block, but what if you don't use the platform for anything? Do you have to remove it?

The thought of somehow taking it off was a bit worrying and I want to stay within the Solo rules of course. So I bolted a simple stainless steel eye strap to the top of the mainsheet block platform.

Most Solos have a large metal fitting with a block and cleat that swivels - this means the block can't hit the boat. Something like this Allen one:

but I just wanted the bit with the spring and block. So to protect the wood from the block and spring I cut a thin (2mm) piece of white acetal plastic (which is very tough stuff) to fit around the eye. The plastic will protect the wood, but doesn't need to be permanently attached as it will be held in place by the spring above it.

I then cable-tied the spring so it was out of the way while I shackled the block to the stainless eye.

Now the block can swivel too much (especially downwind) and get the mainsheet in a tangle. So I decided to thread some string around the block and the eye to stop it turning too far. After some experimenting, I decided that it was better to use shockcord than string for this. So initially I tied it, but later I removed the string and used 4mm shockcord instead.

Once I finished attaching it, I could cut the cable ties and re-thread the mainsheet. Job done ⛵