fairleads

[milfordman]

I am searching for straight fairleads that i can use to run mooring springs through. My boat has a raised toerail that stands above the deck with a clearance of approx 32 mm. I have seen straight fairleads with a closed top in the past, idealy the fairlead would fit under the toerail, or at least with the minimum of trimming. Any sugestions of a manufacurer?

 

[PeterGibbs]

Generally a waste of money, can be subject to a lot of strain so need to be heavily installed which can be tricky, and awkward to release lines when they pass through them.

To protect wooden toerails, go for a stainless steel rounded strip on the outside edge, extending about 10" either side of the cleat - as used on many quality boats, including mine. Installed in 1/2 hour - beating fairleads by quite a margin!

PWG

 

[Bajansailor]

Most so called 'fairleads' should really be called 'unfairleads' as they invariably seem to cause the mooring ropes to chafe...... so often I have seen ropes led through a 'fairlead', when the lead would have been much better if it had come directly from the cleat on the boat to (eg) a pontoon cleat.
If there is a toerail or other obstruction in the way, a stainless steel chafing strip (as well radiused as possible) over the top, in way of where the rope is likely to run, is often a much better arrangement than a 'fairlead' as Peter has noted above.
And adding a length of plastic hose over the mooring line in way of the S/S chafing strip will lessen the risk of chafe happening enormously.

 

[milfordman]

Re: fairleads : Re Peter Gibbs and Bajansailor

I was interested to hear your sugestion of the stainless steel (SS) chafing strip as I have never seen any. My boat is a steel Ebbtide 33. The toe rail is made from 4 inch high by 1 inch thick teak, the top and bottom are fully rounded off i.e. 1/2 inch radius. It is fixed down every 2 feet to the side of every stansion post or angle plates all mounted on 1 inch thick teak support blocks. Are the chafing strip you mension of very thin SS that could be wraped over the radiused top?

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: fairleads : Re chafing strips

Umm yes, I think so, re thin S/S wrapped over the top.
Although I think the best solution for a steel boat is to have a break in the toerail and have a nice chunky S/S cleat or bollard welded on the edge of the hull, perhaps with a S/S strip welded to the hull deck edge if required.
No unfairleads = no (or minimal) chafe!

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Re: fairleads : Re chafing strips

Hmm I've got a similar problem (amongst others) with my mooring arrangement.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Re: fairleads : Re chafing strips

Is this how you mean

except I have bolted mine onto welded on plates with blind threaded attachment holed