Kicker and Outhaul

[Fire99]

Well here is the first little stumbling block (excuse the 'block' pun) for my little project.

The current small block (which hooks into the boom) has an odd angled pin like arrangement that hooks into a 'keep' on the underside of the boom.
It's not a hook, more an angled petal pin with a flat on it.

Obviously I want to upgrade this or hook something else in but I can't seem to find this fitting anywhere.

Any ideas great knowing folk?

 

[VicS]

Key hole plate ??
See my picture in post #2

Sometimes the removable bit is a bent pin with a flat head

 

[Danielmc]

A common system on small boats from years ago. You can probably recycle the existing "pin" arrangement by incorporating it into your new tackle - the top block on your kicker should be able to shackle onto the pin somehow. Otherwise it's a case of drilling out the rivets on your existing "keep" and attaching something you can more easily hang the kicker from.

 

[Fire99]

Key hole plate ??
See my picture in post #2

Sometimes the removable bit is a bent pin with a flat head

A bit smaller than that but that kind of idea. The block has a thick kind of bend pin with a flat head, which hooks in.

 

[Fire99]

A common system on small boats from years ago. You can probably recycle the existing "pin" arrangement by incorporating it into your new tackle - the top block on your kicker should be able to shackle onto the pin somehow. Otherwise it's a case of drilling out the rivets on your existing "keep" and attaching something you can more easily hang the kicker from.

I was thinking perhaps I could drill the pin in the block out and maybe fit a small shackle on it.

 

[Fire99]

Curved kicking strap key

That looks like what is attached to the top block... Hmm I sense some options.

Thanks for Posting Vic!

 

[VicS]

I was thinking perhaps I could drill the pin in the block out and maybe fit a small shackle on it.

These are Holt allen fittings

Kicking strap bracket

Kicking strap key

Curved kicking strap key

 

[Fire99]

These are Holt allen fittings

Good stuff. Well i'm working from memory at the mo so I'd better double check my imagination isn't speccing something that doesn't exist

But certainly looks on the right track.. Many thanks.

 

[BAtoo]

I was thinking perhaps I could drill the pin in the block out and maybe fit a small shackle on it.

Alternatively remove the old fitting & fit a stout saddle strap onto which you attach your block.

 

[Fire99]

Alternatively remove the old fitting & fit a stout saddle strap onto which you attach your block.

Certainly a possibility but I'm no riveting expert and I've not fitted rivets to my boom before.

 

[BAtoo]

Certainly a possibility but I'm no riveting expert and I've not fitted rivets to my boom before.

Pretty straightforward. Monel rivets of a decent size; drill 2 holes in boom of the same size (in the right place) - easy job with a drill and a sharp bit. Then use the rivet gun to pop the rivets once all in place.
The larger rivets need a large gun which you would be best borrowing as they are quite expensive to buy.
The normal hand riveters do up to 4.8mm rivets which may just be man-enough for the job.

 

[VicS]

Certainly a possibility but I'm no riveting expert and I've not fitted rivets to my boom before.

Pop riveting is no problem.
I don't remember how mine is fitted.
I may have borrowed a pop riveter from work ( all I used to have was a cheap one for 1/8" aluminium rivets)
It may be fixed with self tappers.

The picture is not good enough to see.


For more recent jobs finding it not easy to hire one I bought a "lazy tongs" riveter from Toolstation for about £16 .... it's done all I've wanted it to do, or ever likely to do.

 

[Fire99]

Thanks guys..

I'll double check what the current set-up is and report back

 

[VicS]

Thanks guys..

I'll double check what the current set-up is and report back

I looked at the original picture. It's pop riveted on to the boom!

 

[Fire99]

Curved kicking strap key

Sorry to re-awaken the thread This is exactly what I have on my kicking strap with a block running from it, so any upgrades can be hung from this key.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

My records show you have a "E" measurement of 3535, (back of mast to black band), I am not sure you need a rope the same size as the mainsheet however a good purchase system will help, the outhaul as well could be a 2-1 possibly inside the boom and this will help.

I have an internal outhaul system for a 10ftx 4"dia boom if you would like you can have it for postage as my mast and boom are brand new.
I can photograph it for you and you can PM me if any good to you.
C_W

 

[bbg]

My kicker, albeit on slightly smaller boat, is pictured below.

The top section is wire the bottom section is a made up with two double blocks, the bottom one having a jammer, giving a 4 fold purchase.
I have used fairly light cordage ... 4 or 5 mm probably .. but if you wish you could use a larger diameter and of course heavier blocks.

The boom attachment point should be positioned so that the kicker is a 45° for best effect.

Note that there is special way to thread double blocks so that they don't twist

I dont have an adjustable outhaul ... my boat is not a hot racing machine! The foot is tensioned with a long length of light cordage that goes from the eye in the clew, through the eye on the boom end and back through the eye of the sail several times. Effectively giving the equivalent of a four fold purchase.

Re cascades - you can double the purchase on the system shown here simply by replacing the wire strop with a bit of dyneema that goes up from the upper block (shown in this photo) to a block on the boom and back down to the base of the mast.

 

[Fire99]

I have an internal outhaul system for a 10ftx 4"dia boom if you would like you can have it for postage as my mast and boom are brand new.
I can photograph it for you and you can PM me if any good to you.
C_W

Many thanks for the offer. I'll take another look at my boom to see if it will take such a system, and let you know.

Thanks,

Nik

 

[ex-Gladys]

Don't be put off by people saying you're not racing so "why bother"... Nothing worse for comfort than an old main with the draft blown aft in a strong wind and the tiller having to sit on the weather coming to compensate for the weather helm so induced....

 

[Fire99]

Don't be put off by people saying you're not racing so "why bother"... Nothing worse for comfort than an old main with the draft blown aft in a strong wind and the tiller having to sit on the weather coming to compensate for the weather helm so induced....

I agree. I race a Squib at weekends and it's interesting to see what little changes improves things. Anyway, my theory is that every 'piece of string' attached to the boat should (within economic reason) do its job properly.

The current kicker with its built in jammer is a pain in the backside, so I won't be upset to beef it up a bit.