That's somewhat of an oxymoron. What's your reason to go outside the rules?a working boat(non-class)
Could you be a bit more specific?something like the race versions
Of what? If you're talking about the old Allen vang cleat block, it's made of cast aluminium. Do NOT drill any holes in it; if you want to attach extra sheaves to it, it's much easier to tie them to the pin or the swivel, or replace the pin with a bolt that's long enough to attach cheek blocks.How thick are the Stainless side plates?????
As in( I thought I splained)....I have a bare Hull, so it's not a working sailboat....just a poorly designed rowboat, at this point.That's somewhat of an oxymoron. What's your reason to go outside the rules?
Harken XD, Holt Alen or Nautos CX(I sort of like that design)Could you be a bit more specific?
Of the Stainless side plates of the Vang Assy (don't know how to be much clearer about that). Wasn't looking for opinions on assumption that I was modifying this or that. I wasn't looking to play 20 questions about my motives, skill level, whether I went to an Ivy League of Public school. The only holes I'm drilling are the ones I design into a sheet of raw stainless plate. Just looking for a answer an Engineer might give, like "The Harken side plates are T-316 .048"(18Ga.) except the cleat arm, which is .060" (16 Ga.)Of what? If you're talking about the old Allen vang cleat block, it's made of cast aluminium. Do NOT drill any holes in it; if you want to attach extra sheaves to it, it's much easier to tie them to the pin or the swivel, or replace the pin with a bolt that's long enough to attach cheek blocks.
The plates are formed (bent) in the two pin attachment points, I assume to increase strength at these stress points.
The shaping of the side plates on both the (new) Allen and Harken is more likely simply about making the other parts and connections fit. The Allen plates are about 8 mm apart, except 4 mm at the mast tang pin and 11 mm at the sheave intended for the primary line.Yeah the side plates are cold forged to create a box structure to make it stiffer( a superior design feature to the other Vangs)
Thank Ed......Yeah the side plates are cold forged to create a box structure to make it stiffer( a superior design feature to the other Vangs) It surprises me that the swing arm is thinner than the side plates, especially with their box structure, though the swing arm is trickier to form and bolting on the cleat forms a box structure, as well.
Which reminds me......is the cleat a micro(1- 7/8"wide #468 or 471) or is it a Cam-Matic(2-9/16 wide #150 or 365)??? looks like a micro.
Not necessarily. Harken changed it to aluminium a couple years ago, and you can buy either version now. The composite cleat has a blue fairlead and the aluminium cleat a red one.the cleat is carbo.